The Angling Trust is supporting a two-year scientific study to confirm the return of Atlantic bluefin tuna in British waters and investigate their movements. The Thunnus UK Project is being carried out by the University of Exeter and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) and will use state-of-the-art tracking devices to improve knowledge of the species and help secure its future around the UK. Atlantic bluefin tuna are amongst the biggest, fastest and most valuable fish in the sea and were once a common sight in UK waters, ranging throughout the Celtic and North Sea. However, they largely disappeared from British waters in the 1990s, possibly due to overfishing, and are now recognised as an endangered species. In recent years they have been observed more frequently in UK coastal waters, particularly during the late summer, autumn and winter as they move into coastal areas to feed on energy rich fish such as sprats and herring.

The research team will be supported by the Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, and scientists will work with stakeholders including commercial fishers, recreational anglers, wildlife watchers and NGOs to share knowledge and to deploy around 40 satellite tracking devices.  The Angling Trust has been pushing the government to begin a tagging project since bluefin tuna started appearing in inshore UK waters three or four year ago when anglers fishing for sharks began to see them and catch them accidentally. Click here to read more about the project.