Bluefin Tuna Catch and Release Recreational Fishery (CRRF) Statistics published
Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has published Bluefin Tuna Catch and Release Recreational Fishery (CRRF) Statistics 2024.
Key statistics include:
- The 2024 Blue Fin Tuna Catch and Release Recreational Fishery ran from 3 August 2024 to 31 December 2024. The 2024 season lasted for 21 weeks and 4 days.
- Of the 93 permitted vessels, 81 were active at least once during the 2024 season
- These vessels made 1,014 trips in total. Of those, there were 838 trips (83.0%) where at least one Blue Fin Tuna was caught successfully.
- In total, 3,359 Blue Fin Tuna were caught throughout the 2024 season, with an average of 3.3 Blue Fin Tuna per trip.
- The average length of the Blue Fin Tuna caught was 167.7cm, and the average estimated weight was 95.5kg.
- The majority (98.7%) of Blue Fin Tuna were released in a good to excellent condition. The reported mortality rate before release was 0.21% of all Blue Fin Tuna caught.
This is an official statistics release.
Starting in 2024, an English Catch and Release Recreational Fishery (CRRF) for Blue Fin Tuna (BFT) was opened. The fishery allows permitted vessels to use ‘catch and release’ BFT by rod and line for a defined period in English waters. As this fishery operates within English waters, the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is responsible for issuing permits for the fishery, as well as monitoring fishing activity to enable sustainable marine activities and support UK economic growth.
Permit numbers are proportionate to the amount of quota available for incidental BFT mortalities. To receive and maintain their permit, vessel owners are obligated to submit data on their trips and associated catch, which the MMO collects for operational purposes, including monitoring and managing the fishery throughout the season. MMO is also required to submit data to the International Council for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) to fulfil the UK’s reporting obligations as a contracting party. These official statistics contain details on fishing activity from the Blue Fin Tuna CRRF in the 2024 season.
The 2024 season started on 3 August 2024 and ran through until 31 December 2024, meaning the season was open for 21 weeks and 4 days. This season is the first this CRRF for BFT has been in operation. It follows a three-year scientific research programme from the Centre for Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) into BFT in the South West of England.
You can find more information on the statistics on Gov.uk.
Contacts:
Tel: 0300 123 1032
Email: media@marinemanagement.org.uk