Image: Bluefin Tuna in Torbay, Devon by Ray Harrington
Angus Campbell, a fisher based on the Isle of Harris, the Outer Hebrides, has secured one of only 15 licences, which allows him to land 3 tonnes of tuna this season.
Eastern Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) have returned to UK waters after being absent for many years.
The UK is only issuing 15 commercial licences this season – which officially opens on 1st July and runs until the end of the year – to catch tuna using rod and reel methods.
The fishery is mainly focused around south-west of England and it is believed that this licence is the only one in Scotland.
Speaking to the Stornoway Gazette, Mr Campbell said:
“Landing at Leverburgh gives us the opportunity to work out west and we are hoping to get a better quality of fish than was accessible when we could only land at Stornoway.”
“It has to be of very good quality to send it abroad. We are looking at local and UK markets and have plans set up to go as far as Tokyo. We had it all set up last year but unfortunately didn’t get a licence.”
Duncan Macinnes, secretary of the Western Isles Fishermen’s Association, welcomed Mr Campbell’s success in securing a licence.
“We have been saying for years that there is potential for a well-managed tuna fishery in the Outer Hebrides which could have a real economic impact.
“This is an important step towards that and the fact that landings can take place at Leverburgh as well as Stornoway is a really significant development.”
Image: Sunshine on the Isle of Harris, Outer Hebrides by Jeremy Stewardson
Difficult application process
While successful applicants will be pleased, many will be left disappointed in what was a highly competitive and time-consuming process. Applications were temporarily paused at the end of April to enable adjustments to guidance and application criteria, focusing on inclusion of relevant experience and training held by masters as well as vessel owners. However, following the changes by Government, all applications that had been submitted already were cancelled, and interested parties had to re-submit applications online.