Guidance

Bluefin tuna in the UK

Information on the current rules applicable to Bluefin tuna in UK waters.

From:
Marine Management Organisation
Published
4 August 2021
Last updated
28 March 2024 — See all updates

Eastern Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) (Thunnus thynnus) are present again in UK waters after an absence of many years.

The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) is the Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (RFMO) responsible for managing Atlantic BFT. As a contracting member of ICCAT and quota share holder, the UK is required to submit an annual fishing plan detailing how our BFT quota will be used each year.

For 2024, our annual fishing plan has now been endorsed by ICCAT detailing how our 66.15 tonnes of quota will be used this year. This includes 16 tonnes to allow for UK recreational permitting schemes, and 39 tonnes for a UK trial commercial fishery. The remainder will be used to account for UK commercial bycatch and tagging programmes.

The decisions on how government intend to use our quota have been made to ensure that BFT fisheries meet our international commitments, contribute to delivering Fisheries Act 2020 objectives, and reflect stakeholder interests including both the commercial and recreational fishers.

Click here for information on the recreational BFT fishery in UK waters and if interested in applying for a BFT (catch and release) permit for English waters.

Click here for information on the commercial BFT fishery in UK waters and if interested in applying for a BFT licence.

Click here for information on the commercial BFT bycatch rules.

Each page above provides guidance on either recreational or commercial activity relating to BFT. It includes:

  • What is prohibited.
  • What a permit or licence allows for.
  • Eligibility criteria.
  • How and when to apply.
  • Fishers’ responsibilities.

Please note: Vessel owners cannot secure both a recreational BFT permit and a commercial BFT licence for the same vessel.

Updates to this page

Published 4 August 2021
Last updated 28 March 2024 + show all updates

  1. Thursday 28 March 2024 update.

  2. Updates refer to the closure of both of last year’s CHART and BFT trials.

  3. Links removed and three references to MMO changed to MMO UK single liaison office

  4. Guidance update

  5. Update

  6. Update on commercial trial fishery 2023

  7. Application details added to.

  8. Attachment changed to pdf

  9. Updated re commercial trial 2023

  10. Status update

  11. Updated Dead Tuna

  12. First published.

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