In the warm summer waters of the Mediterranean Sea, millions of tiny bluefin tuna larvae are born. Each one is the beginning of the ocean wanderer's journey. Barely hatched from an egg, the tiny ant-sized creature finds itself amidst vast blue waters and a host of threats. The larvae drift through the water column, feeding on microscopic plankton. Only a few survive: predatory fish and other sea creatures relentlessly eat the defenceless fry. But those that do survive grow rapidly, almost 30cm a year.

As the years pass, the tiny tuna becomes a young metre-long ocean wanderer. He's already outstripped the size of most of the fish around him. Its body is torpedo-shaped and powerful, with a dark blue back, silvery sides and white belly. On the back is a stiff sickle fin. Nature has created this tuna an ideal swimming machine: its muscles are surprisingly strong, its heart is large and its blood is saturated with oxygen. Unlike most fish, the bluefin tuna is a warm-blooded creature and can maintain a body temperature higher than the surrounding water. This unique ability allows it not to freeze in the cold currents of the Atlantic, but to keep racing even where other fish become slow.

Chasing the blue abyss

As he grows up, the bluefin tuna gains real power. Now he's the ultimate predator, lightning through the ocean.

In one of the most vivid episodes of his life, our hero goes hunting. Underwater drama erupts: a flock of sardines gathered in a tight ball, trying to escape, because the tunas began to attack. The huge tuna rushes through the blue-green twilight, its muscles working like springs. In the blink of an eye, it reaches its target, travelling at over 60 to 70 kilometres an hour—faster than a swordfish or a marlin. Sardines try to get away, their scales glistening in the sunlight that pierces the water, but they don't stand a chance against the tuna.

In co-operation with other tunas, he cuts the shoal apart and drives his prey upwards towards the surface. The fins sharply outline the water as the hunter darts through the pillar of thrashing fish. One sharp jerk—and in his jaws are several small fish at once. Bluefin tuna eats greedily, because ahead of him awaits long wanderings. On a normal day he eats mackerel, herring, anchovies, and sometimes squid, gaining strength before the great journey.

After a successful hunt, tuna goes into the depths. It can dive very deep in pursuit of its prey—up to 1,200 metres into the cold and dark abyss. There, in the darkness, he feels confident: warm muscles and keen eyesight allow him to hunt even in cool waters at the edge of the light range. At night, it rises closer to the surface, where squid and glowing jellyfish gather—and the hunt is repeated in the moonlight.

Every day of a tuna's life is a race: for food, for survival, for the future. Much like the adrenaline-fueled excitement of deep-sea hunting, the thrill of the chase can also be found in the world of gaming. Whether testing your luck or strategy, the Stay Casino free chips offer a chance to experience that rush without risk, diving into the depths of entertainment just like a true ocean predator.

A big journey

Once satiated, the bluefin tuna feels the ancient call in its blood. It's time for the great migration. Our ocean wanderer turns north-west, leaving the hospitable Mediterranean Sea. Ahead is the Atlantic and thousands of kilometres to go. Year after year, tuna make such journeys, crossing entire oceans in search of food and spawning grounds. The hero of our story follows the invisible routes of his ancestors: through the Strait of Gibraltar, he enters the open ocean, where the Gulf Stream current carries him north. All around him is nothing but a vast watery desert. Sometimes there is floating seaweed, occasionally the shadows of sharks in the depths or the silhouettes of dolphins following him.

The tuna obeys currents but also senses subtle changes in water temperature and salinity. Its internal compass guides it to rich feeding grounds. For a moment, the vague outline of a coastline appears in the distance - perhaps the coast of Europe or northern Africa. Here, in temperate latitudes, the waters are rich in anchovies and herring. The tuna stops for a long feast, replenishing its energy reserves. It has grown to the size of a small car: its body length is about three metres and its weight is under a tonne. Such giants can reach 4.5 metres in length and 680 kilograms in weight - true kings of the ocean. In summer, sensing the warming waters and lengthening days, the bluefin tuna changes course. It has crossed the Atlantic and now heads for its spawning grounds. It has travelled thousands of miles with unwavering persistence. Several times along the way he has had to avoid danger: once a storm nearly blew him off course, stirring up waves that prevented him from sailing; another time he survived an encounter with a killer whale patrolling the waters of the North Atlantic ridge. But the instinct to continue the race proves stronger than any obstacle. Eventually he re-enters the Mediterranean, making a lap across the ocean. Here, in the gentle waters, it will find mates and continue its eternal cycle of life, giving rise to a new generation of tuna.

Encounter with man

But along the way, the tuna encounters an insidious enemy it has not known since birth - man. Close to the coast, the fish can smell something foreign in the water: the subtle odour of oil and metal. These are fishing boats and gear. Over the years of wandering, the hero has wised up considerably and learnt to be alert when he smells something wrong. One day, at dawn, he and a flock of other tuna fell into a strange labyrinth of nets - a traditional trap like almadraba, set near the coast.

Panic ensues, with dozens of tuna darting back and forth, the water boiling with their blows. People in boats around the trap begin to raise their nets, squeezing the ring. Our tuna is struggling to break free. Blood is already pooling in the clear water all around - several of his fellow tuna are wounded by the nets and are beating ever weaker. The fate seemed to be sealed, but suddenly one section of the net sags, and with a strong jerk the tuna manages to slip through the narrow gap! In a moment he was free, rushing away from the trap, leaving the danger behind him. He was lucky, but many others were unable to escape and were hoisted to the decks by the men.Another time our hero faced a lonely ordeal.

 The deeply swallowed bait drags it onto the hook of a longline tackle left in the open sea. A sharp pain pierces his jaw; the tuna darts away, pulling the long line behind him. A buoy bobbed on the surface. The struggle between the mighty fish and the tackle lasts for hours. The tuna goes into the depths, then jumps out of the water, whipping foam with his tail. He works himself to the point of exhaustion, but the line inexorably pulls him to the surface. It seemed that the forces are leaving him ... But in a desperate last throw, the tuna suddenly rips off the hook - perhaps the metal leash could not withstand or the hook bent under the incredible load. After bruising its jaw, exhausted, it survives and swims away, leaving the people with nothing. Such fights often end in victory for the fisherman: there are known cases when a fisherman had to fight for more than an hour before pulling out a tuna weighing over 100kg

. Our hero was lucky again. The tuna is not aware of the true scale of the danger. He feels only moments - here is a companion in the pack disappeared, caught in invisible fetters, here in the distance, the sound of the engine. But man hunts it all over the world. Bluefin tuna is valued more than gold: its red meat, especially the tender fatty ‘otoro’, is considered a delicacy. In expensive restaurants, tuna pieces are served as exquisite shashimi.

 A single large tuna fetches hundreds of thousands of dollars at fish auctions - sometimes more than $1,000 per pound of weight. This demand has made tuna a target for intensive fishing. Armed with modern radar and strong nets, people catch thousands of these fish every year. Not surprisingly, the bluefin tuna population has declined catastrophically in recent decades. Where once huge schools of giant tuna swam, only a few are now found.

On the brink and hope

Our hero continues his journey - wounded but free. He still has a long way to go: he may live up to 40 years in the vast ocean, if he can avoid danger. Each year he will find it harder and harder to find his kind in the cold waters of the north and the warm seas of the south. His world is changing. The water is getting warmer and the familiar routes are shifting northwards. The one who likes cooler currents has to go further and further away in pursuit of a comfortable environment.

 Climate change also affects the food base: herring and mackerel swarms migrate to new areas or decrease in number. Bluefin tuna sometimes have to swim longer and deeper to find food. It cannot save its entire population - but people can help.Having realised the drama of the bluefin tuna, humanity has begun to take action. In some regions, strict fishing quotas have been introduced and protected areas have been created where tuna can spawn without interference. Scientists note that after management measures were taken, tuna numbers have started to recover in some places. However, there is still a long way to go to fully restore the majestic ocean giants. The fate of our hero does not leave readers indifferent: we want to believe that he will continue to dissect the ocean expanses, bypassing the nets and climate storms. The story of the bluefin tuna is an exciting race for life, full of drama and hope. And it is up to us to decide whether that race will continue for many more years or be cut short forever. Let us ensure that the ocean wanderer continues to sail the seas as a living symbol of the power and fragility of nature.