MMO – ‘Bluefin tuna in the UK
Information on the current rules applicable to Bluefin tuna in UK waters. Status of bluefin tuna
Eastern Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) is a highly migratory species which for several years appeared to be absent from UK waters. Scientific surveys and sightings by members of the public suggest an increased number of them in UK waters. The reasons for this increase are not clear but are likely due to shifts in distribution. Changes in environmental or prey conditions or increases in stock size could have caused these shifts.
The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) is the international Regional Fisheries Management Organisation managing Atlantic bluefin tuna. The UK funds the Thunnus UK project, as part of the ICCAT Grand Bluefin Tuna Year Programme (GBYP) research activities. Thunnus provides an understanding of the ecology of Eastern Atlantic bluefin tuna in waters of the British Isles.
In 2021, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) changed their entry for Eastern Atlantic bluefin tuna from “endangered” to “least concern”. This reflects the improving state of the stock. The only recent labelling of Eastern Atlantic bluefin tuna as “least concern” underlines a need for a continued cautious approach to its management.
Bluefin Tuna – 48 tonne Quota – Defra answer questions on Quota Alocation
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, to which fisheries his Department has allocated the 48 tonne bluefin tuna quota set out under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement; and where those fisheries are located.
Victoria Prentis The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The UK’s quota of bluefin tuna for 2021 has not been allocated to any specific sector of the UK fishing industry this year. A proportion has been reserved to account for any incidental bycatch in commercial fisheries targeting other species, in line with requirements of ICCAT (International Commission for the conservation of Atlantic Tunas) of which the UK is a member, and a further proportion has been reserved to account for any incidental mortality arising from scientific catch and release tagging programmes.