06 Aug 2024

Legislation came into force in June 2024 enabling UK fisheries administrations to launch permitting regimes for the recreational angling of Bluefin Tuna in their waters. Permits have now been issued to 89 vessels to recreationally target Bluefin Tuna using rod and line, on a catch and release basis, following a resurgence of the species in […]

11 Jun 2024

Legislation has come into force today establishing permitting regimes for vessels to fish recreationally for Atlantic bluefin tuna in UK waters. The legislation allows for vessels with a permit to fish using rod and line, on a catch and release basis, following the resurgence of the species. 16 tonnes of bluefin tuna quota have been […]

12 Dec 2023

Recreational anglers will have broader access to a catch-and-release Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery in English waters, the UK government has announced. Responding to overwhelming support for proposals in a consultation, Defra has confirmed that it will introduce legislation in the spring to establish permitting regimes for the recreational targeting of bluefin tuna. This will mean […]

15 Aug 2023

Marine environmentalists have reacted with concern at news the UK will allow commercial fishing of bluefin tuna for the first time in 60 years. The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) have announced that 10 licences would be issued for a small-scale trial of commercial fishing, with the tuna brought ashore for consumption, […]

18 Jul 2023

Defra has released six Fisheries Management Plans for consultation alongside a raft of other measures. In its press release Defra said that ‘the UK is introducing a world class system of fisheries management. This draws on the best available science and the expertise of our fishermen to ensure our fish stocks are healthy and sustainable long […]

27 Jun 2023

Defra have announced in a policy paper that the UK will trial new small-scale commercial Bluefin tuna fishery.  For 2023 the UK has 65 tonnes of bluefin tuna quota, an increase on the quota in 2021 and 2022. The UK will use 39 tonnes of this quota to trial a new small-scale commercial fishery, which […]

15 Nov 2022

In a new global study, experts use the iconic predatory tunas, billfishes and sharks as sentinels of ocean health to support the development of long-term and robust indicators for addressing sustainability and biodiversity loss in oceanic ecosystems. The AZTI technology centre, in collaboration with Simon Fraser University (SFU) and the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF), has developed this new […]