Bluefin (BFT) by-catch rules within the commercial fishery
Bluefin (BFT) by-catch rules within the commercial fishery.
Details
Unavoidable by-catch.
Introduced in 2021, a new licence condition allows certain English vessels to sell commercially by-caught BFT which is above the MCRS.
The licence condition may change according to quota usage.
Selling BFT is only allowed under certain provisions. This is to prevent direct targeting.
These provisions are:
- A limit of one by-caught BFT able to be sold per trip by vessels.
- Only vessels with gear types with a risk of unavoidable by-catch can sell this BFT. The permissible gear types under these requirements are:
- Demersal trawls and seines
- Pelagic trawls, purse seines and ring nets
- Fixed nets
These measures ensure the continuation of a precautionary management of this stock. English vessels must continue to report and land all dead BFT by-catch above the MCRS which cannot be offered for sale.
The MMO may offer this BFT for scientific research, as part of the Thunnus UK project, the MMO will approve this once reported. Where this is not possible at the time of landing you will be required to destroy the BFT by-catch.
How to land dead bluefin tuna and reporting conditions.
UK vessels landing BFT are able to land at any UK designated port. If you are unable to reach a designated port seek advice from the UK Fisheries Monitoring Centre (UKFMC).
When an English commercial vessel intends to sell by-caught or licenced caught BFT which is dead, they are to prepare, pack and store the tuna for sale as per usual.
Traders who wish to buy English caught BFT will need to be an authorised registered trader. Traders need to request registration before the sale with either the MMO UK single liaison office or UKFMC.
Traders are also responsible for checking legitimacy of the landed BFT. All landings must be accompanied with an eBCD.
Alongside standard reporting requirements, all UK vessels must report all by-caught (or trial caught) BFT which is dead to the MMO UK single liaison office or the UKFMC 4 hours before landing.
If unable to report at least 4 hours before landing, vessels must report as soon as reasonably possible. These vessels may not land the by-catch until prior authorisation has been granted by the MMO UK single liaison office or UKFMC.
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When reporting between the hours of 08:00 – 17:00 GMT Monday – Friday report this by-catch to the MMO UK single liaison office (UKSLO) on 0330 041 6585 or ukiuuslo@marinemanagement.org.uk
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When reporting between the hours of 17:00 – 08:00 GMT Monday – Friday and weekends report this by-catch to the UKFMC on 0131 244 2286 or UKFMC@gov.scot
When reporting ensure you have the following information ready:
- total BFT weight
- number caught
- vessel details
- licence details
- designated port of landing
- trader details, if selling
Landing or selling BFT without a completed and validated catch document (eBCD) is prohibited.
Once the eBCD is validated, vessels will receive confirmation via email or phone.
English and Welsh administered vessels under 10 metres will need to submit a catch record no later than completion of landing using the Catch Application.
Scottish administered vessels of 10-12 metres must record this by-catch in their paper logbook. Scottish administered vessels of under 10 metres must record it on their weekly FISH1 return.