Bluefin tuna commercial trial fishery 2023
Updated 30 November 2023
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Policy Update (30/11/23) - Bluefin tuna commercial trial fishery extended.
The 2023 Bluefin tuna commercial trial fishery has been extended and will now end on the 31st of December.
This is to allow more time for data to be collected.
Since 2021 the UK has secured a bluefin tuna fishing quota. Read the current rules applicable to bluefin tuna in UK waters.
Bluefin tuna fishing quota 2023
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, as endorsed in our International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) fishing plan for 2023. The trial will assist in the evaluation of the sustainability of a small scale commercial bluefin tuna fishery and the social and economic benefits this new fishery could potentially provide to UK fishers.
The UK can make up to 10 licence authorisations available, in accordance with ICCAT vessel catching capacity guidance in ICCAT recommendation 22-08. We have committed to this in our 2023 ICCAT fishing plan.
The Marine Management Organisation (MMO), on behalf of the UK fisheries authorities, will distribute the 39 tonnes of quota amongst successful licence authorisation holders to fish against. The fishery will be open from 1 August to 31 December 2023 subject to ICCAT registry. The quota will be managed by the MMO who reserve the right to re-distribute quota as required during the year. Licence authorisations will be non-transferable and valid for the 2023 fishing season only. Licence authorisations will not provide successful applicants with a track record for future quota considerations and provide no guarantee of access to bluefin tuna quota in future.
Criteria for licence authorisation
Commercial fishing licence holders who meet specific mandatory criteria can apply to take part in the trial. These criteria are aligned with the UK’s commitment to meeting the requirements set by ICCAT and contributing to the sustainable management of the stock internationally.
To apply for a bluefin tuna licence authorisation applicants must:
- have a commercial fishing licence and be registered in either England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland
- have a vessel under 15 metres in length
- use rod and reel fishing gears which only use lures - no live bait or chumming will be permitted
- agree to be contacted as part of a formal evaluation of the trial
Vessels from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland may apply to take part in the trial, but fishing for bluefin tuna will not be permitted in Welsh or Northern Irish waters in 2023.
MMO and Defra reserve the right to take account of previous infringements by applicants when assessing applications.
Recording and trading catches
All catches must be recorded using paper or electronic logbooks at sea and reported to the UK Fisheries Monitoring Centre (UKFMC) or UK single liaison office (UKSLO).
All fishing vessels involved in the trial must register on the ICCAT Electronic Bluefin Tuna Catch Document Programme (eBCD) online system and will be required to report their catches on that system.
All traders must be registered on the ICCAT eBCD online system to allow them to participate in the trade of bluefin tuna. Read guidance for bluefin tuna traders.
Defra must register all landing ports with ICCAT. According to ICCAT recommendation 22-08, landings of bluefin tuna can only be made into designated ports registered with ICCAT.
Expression of interest to take part in the trial
Applications to take part in the trial closed on 14 July 2023. The expression of interest process is available on the National Archives.
Expressions of interest will be restricted to a single application per applicant. Applicants must decide whether to apply as part of a group application or as an individual application before submitting their expression of interest.
Read how to apply for a bluefin tuna licence authorisation.
Applicants must include a fishing and marketing plan to give further details on how they will optimise their bluefin tuna quota. These will be assessed on a fair and proportionate basis as part of the process to determine which applicants should be allocated a quota. We will assess which applicants are best placed to deliver an environmentally sustainable fishery with substantial economic and/or social benefits.
Applications will be reviewed by a panel chaired by Defra and attended by the MMO and representatives from the UK fisheries administrations. Applications will be ranked based on their score and licence authorisations awarded to the 10 highest scoring applicants. Equal scoring applicants will be selected randomly to fulfil the available licence authorisations.
The UK Single Issuing Authority (UKSIA) reserves the right to determine who receives a licence authorisation, and will notify successful applicants before the trial starts on 1 August 2023. Vessels will have to register with the ICCAT registry before successful applicants can commence fishing.