Marine Management Organisation
Status of bluefin tuna
Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) (Thunnus thynnus) is present again in UK waters after an absence of many years. Scientific surveys and sightings by members of the public suggest an increased number of them in UK waters, most probably due to changes to environmental or prey conditions.
The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) is the international Regional Fisheries Management Organisation managing Atlantic bluefin tuna.
In 2020, ICCAT received advice from its Standing Committee on Research and Statistics (SCRS) that the stock was increasing and unlikely to be subject to overfishing. The SCRS acknowledges these assessments and stock projections include a degree of uncertainty. This uncertainty relates to some aspects of the bluefin tuna life history and the models used. The 2020 bluefin tuna SCRS advice is available in this report.
In 2021, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) changed their entry for Eastern Atlantic bluefin tuna from endangered to least concern reflecting the improving state of the stock. However, the status of least concern awarded recently shows the need for a cautious approach to management.
What to do with caught bluefin tuna
The UK now holds its own bluefin tuna quota. Under this quota, allocations have been made to account for incidental mortality arising from the catch-and-release tagging programme (CHART) and for unavoidable by-catch in commercial fisheries. The MMO and Defra are also running a trial commercial fishery for bluefin tuna in the UK in 2023 behalf of the UK Fisheries Authorities.
Catch and Release Tagging Programme (CHART)
CHART is a scientific catch-and-release tagging programme that was piloted in 2021 and expanded in 2022. The programme has been approved again for 2023. Skippers who have been selected for the CHART programme will secure a Marine Management Organisation (MMO) scientific licence. These selected skippers will continue to catch, and record their catches to contribute to bluefin tuna research. This is done while ensuring the protection of bluefin tuna welfare by releasing bluefin tuna unharmed once tagged. Participating vessels are operating within the English and Bristol Channels.
CHART vessels must offer any bluefin tuna that die during the capture process to the MMO, for scientific research. For more information see the Cefas (CHART) website.
Recreational sea anglers
Recreational sea anglers not involved in CHART are not authorised to target or land bluefin tuna. Any incidental catch must not be brought onto the vessel it must be released alive, unharmed to the greatest extent possible. Recreational sea anglers must not land bluefin tuna.
For guidance on how to safely return bluefin tuna to the sea, visit the Thunnus website.
Commercial vessels
Except for vessels authorised as part of the 2023 trial commercial fishery, no commercial UK vessels are authorised to target this stock. The bluefin tuna should be released alive and unharmed to the greatest extent possible, logbook vessels must record the discard.
For the protection and conservation of bluefin tuna 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 bluefin tuna cannot be returned to the sea alive UK vessels must:
- record all bluefin tuna by-catch
- report and land all dead bluefin tuna above MCRS
- discard all dead bluefin tuna below MCRS, vessels must record all discards
For English administered commercial vessels
First introduced in 2021, a new licence condition allows certain English vessels to sell commercially by-caught bluefin tuna which is above the MCRS.
The licence condition may change according to quota usage.
Selling bluefin tuna is only allowed under certain provisions. This is to prevent direct targeting. These provisions are:
- A limit of one by-caught bluefin tuna able to be sold per trip by vessels.
- Only vessels with gear types with a risk of unavoidable by-catch can sell this bluefin tuna. The permissible gear types under these requirements are:
- demersal trawls
- pelagic trawls
- seines nets
- 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 bluefin tuna by-catch above the MCRS which cannot be offered for sale. The MMO may offer this bluefin tuna for scientific research, as part of the Thunnus UK project, the MMO will approve this once reported. Where this isnt possible at the time of landing you will be required to destroy the bluefin tuna by-catch.
For Non-English administered UK commercial vessels
The licence condition allowing for the sale of one commercially by-caught bluefin tuna per trip is currently only applicable to certain English administered vessels, but this may change in future years.
Northern Irish, Scottish and Welsh administered vessels must continue to report and land all dead bluefin tuna by-catch above the MCRS. Vessels are prohibited from selling this bluefin tuna. The MMO may offer this bluefin tuna for scientific research, as part of the Thunnus UK project, the MMO or UKFMC will approve this once reported. Where this isnt possible at the time of landing you will be required to destroy the bluefin tuna by-catch.
How to land dead bluefin tuna
UK vessels landing by-caught bluefin tuna 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 bluefin tuna which is dead, they are to prepare, pack and store the tuna for sale as per usual. Traders who wish to buy English by-caught bluefin tuna will need to be an authorised registered trader. Traders need to request registration before the sale with either the MMO or UKFMC. A list of registered traders can be found here.
Alongside standard reporting requirements, all UK vessels must report all by-caught