Bluefin tuna (BFT) commercial fishery within UK waters
Bluefin tuna (BFT) commercial fishery within UK waters.
MMO has informed all applicants whether they have been successful in their application to fish BFT commercially in English waters.
Details
What is prohibited?
Commercial targeting of BFT is prohibited unless authorised in your fishing licence.
BFT should be released alive and unharmed to the greatest extent possible; logbook vessels must record the discard.
For the protection and conservation of BFT there is a minimum conservation reference size (MCRS). For bluefin tuna caught in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean the MCRS is 30kg or 115cm (fork length).
If the BFT cannot be returned to the sea alive UK vessels must:
- record all BFT by-catch.
- report and land all dead BFT above MCRS.
- discard all dead BFT below MCRS, vessels must record all discards.
Every BFT landed must be accompanied with an ICCAT Electronic Bluefin Tuna Catch Document (eBCD). It is the fisher’s responsibility to complete. For assistance, please contact ukiuuslo@marinemanagement.org.uk
Permitted BFT fishery through licence authorisation.
For 2024 the UK has 66.15 tonnes of BFT quota.
The UK will use 39 tonnes of the quota to continue to the UK trial commercial fishery for vessels fishing with low-impact rod and reel gears. Licence authorisations will be available for up to 13 vessels, accessed through an application process. The 39 tonnes of quota will be split equally between the successful applicants.
The trial will continue to assist in the evaluation of the sustainability of a small scale commercial BFT fishery and the social and economic benefits this new fishery could potentially provide to UK fishers.
The MMO can make up to 13 licence authorisations available, in accordance with our 2024 UK annual fishing plan endorsed by ICCAT.
The MMO on behalf of the UK fisheries authorities, will distribute the 39 tonnes of the quota amongst successful licence authorisation holders to fish against (3 tonnes per licence holder).
Commercial fishing vessels from England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland may apply to take part in the trial, but fishing for BFT will not be permitted in Welsh or Northern Irish waters in 2024.
The fishery is expected to be open from 1 July to 31 December 2024 subject to ICCAT registry, with the quota managed by the MMO who reserve the right to re-distribute quota if required during the year.
Licence authorisations will be non-transferable and valid for the 2024 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.
The licence will allow a controlled number of vessels the ability to land and sell BFT, provided reporting conditions are met. Failure to meet these conditions can result in an authorisation being suspended or removed.
Eligibility criteria in order to apply for a BFT commercial licence?
Commercial fishing licence holders who meet specific mandatory criteria can apply to take part in the trial. The criteria is 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 BFT licence authorisation applicants must:
- have a commercial fishing licence and be registered in either England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland
- have a vessel 12 metres or under in overall length.
- use rod and reel fishing gears only – no chumming will be permitted.
- have individual fishing trips last less than 24 hours in duration.
- record all catches of BFT and submit an eBCD record for all landings (see reporting conditions below).
- agree to be contacted as part of a formal evaluation of the trial.
Commercial fishing vessels from England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland may apply to take part in the trial, but fishing for BFT will not be permitted in Welsh or Northern Irish waters in 2024.
Applicants cannot own both a commercial BFT licence and a recreational CRRF BFT permit for the same vessel, and applicants will know whether they have been successful before the recreational BFT application period opens.
MMO and Defra reserve the right to take account of previous infringements by applicants when assessing applications.
How to apply for a BFT commercial licence.
In order to open up the fishery from 1 July 2024, the application period will open from 10:00 on 8 April to 28 April 2024.
Applications must be completed on an individual basis per vessel. No group applications will be accepted or applications for more than one vessel per application.
Applicants will be required to complete vessel, nominee, and owner details. Applicants will also need to provide answers to two questions which relate to how applicants are best placed to deliver an environmentally sustainable fishery which brings economic and social benefits to the UK.
Consideration will also be given to an applicant’s history of compliance with regulatory requirements relating to fishing. Further detail on what will be considered is available in the terms and conditions of the application.
In the event that an applicant is successful through the commercial application process, and the applicant chooses to accept the commercial authorisation, they will be ineligible to apply for a the recreational CRRF BFT permit for the same vessel.
If you cannot submit using the preferred online form, please download and print the pdf version of the application form.
When completing the application form, you should:
- answer all required questions. Incomplete application forms will not be considered and will cause your application to be unsuccessful.
- contact the UK single issuing authority (UKSIA) at BFT.Commercial@marinemanagement.org.uk if you experience any problems completing this application.
If submitting the pdf application form, you can either:
- email your form to BFT.Commercial@marinemanagement.org.uk
- or post your form to:
Marine Management Organisation C/o Liz Gee Pakefield Road, Lowestoft NR33 0HT
Applications are open from 10:00 on 8 April to midnight of 28 April 2024. Applications received outside of this period will not be considered.
Due to the commitments made in the 2024 UK fishing plan to ICCAT there are a limited number of authorisation letters available. Therefore, submission of this form does not guarantee that you will receive an authorisation to fish for BFT.
The applications will be assessed on a fair and proportionate basis as part of the process to determine which applicants should be allocated an amount of quota.
Next Steps
In May, the applications will be reviewed by a panel chaired by the MMO with representatives from Defra. Applications will be ranked based on their score and licence authorisations awarded to the 13 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 all applicants whether they are successful or not from the beginning of June.
Successful applicants will be notified in early June and will be given five working days to accept. Failing to accept within this timeframe may result in the MMO offering the authorisation to a fisher on the reserved list.
Successful applicants will be required to undertake Electronic Bluefin Tuna Catch Document (eBCD) online training carried out by the MMO to understand the system. The successful applicants will be requested to submit test data prior to licence being authorised to ensure they can comply with the requirements. It is paramount that all landed BFT has an eBCD record linked to the landing. Further guidance and information will be provided.
In addition, and as with last year, vessels will have to register with the ICCAT registry before successful applicants can commence fishing. ICCAT have a duty to publish this information.
Only when both parts have been completed will a licence be issued to the successful applicant. https://www.iccat.int/en/vesselsrecord.asp
If you have any questions or comments, please send them to: BFT.Commercial@marinemanagement.org.uk
Key dates:
- April – Application submission period.
- May – Application review process
- Early June – Notification of outcome issued to applicants.
- Early to Mid June – Successful applicants register on ICCAT and undertake eBCD reporting training.
- Late June – Licences issued.
- From July to December 2024 – Fishery period opens.
How to land dead BFT 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 BFT for sale as per usual.
Traders who wish to buy English caught BFT will need to be an authorised registered tuna trader and a registered buyer of first sale fish (RBS) if buying directly from vessels. 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.
Updates to this page
Last updated 4 June 2024 + show all updates
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04 June 2024 update.
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Tuesday 07 May 2024 update,
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29 April 2024 update.
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RBS registered amend
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First published.