Bluefin tuna in the UK
Information on the current rules applicable to Bluefin tuna in UK waters.
Eastern
Status of bluefin tuna
Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) (Thunnus thynnus) areis 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 (RFMO)managing responsibleAtlantic forbluefin managingtuna.
In Atlantic2020, BFT.ICCAT Asreceived aadvice contractingfrom memberits ofStanding ICCATCommittee on Research and quotaStatistics share(SCRS) holder,that the UKstock iswas requiredincreasing and unlikely to submitbe ansubject annualto fishingoverfishing. planThe detailingSCRS howacknowledges ourthese BFTassessments quotaand willstock beprojections usedinclude eacha year.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.
ForIn 2024,2021, ourthe annualInternational fishingUnion planfor hasthe nowConservation beenof endorsedNature by(IUCN) ICCATchanged detailingtheir howentry ourfor 66.15Eastern tonnesAtlantic bluefin tuna from “endangered” to “least concern” reflecting the improving state of quotathe willstock. beHowever, usedthe 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 year.quota, Thisallocations includeshave 16been tonnesmade to allowaccount for UKincidental recreationalmortality permittingarising schemes,from andthe 39‘catch-and-release tonnestagging’ programme (CHART) and for aunavoidable UKby-catch trialin commercial fishery.fisheries. The remainderMMO willand beDefra usedtrial tocommercial accountfishery for bluefin tuna in the UK in commercial2023, bycatchclosed andon taggingthe programmes.31 December 2023.
Catch and Release Tagging Programme (CHART)
CHART is a scientific ‘catch-and-release tagging’ programme that was first piloted in 2021. The decisions2023 CHART programme closed on howthe government10 intendDecember to2023.
During useCHART ourprogrammes, quotaskippers havethat beenare madeselected tofor ensurethe thatCHART BFTprogramme fisherieswill meetsecure oura internationalMarine commitments,Management Organisation (MMO) scientific licence. These selected skippers will continue to catch and record their catches to contribute to deliveringbluefin Fisheriestuna Actresearch. 2020This objectives,is anddone reflectwhile stakeholderensuring intereststhe includingprotection bothof bluefin tuna welfare by releasing bluefin tuna unharmed once tagged. Participating vessels are operating within the commercialEnglish and recreationalBristol fishers.Channels.
ClickCHART herevessels must offer any bluefin tuna that die during the capture process to the MMO, for scientific research.
For more information please follow 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 recreationalsea, BFTvisit the Thunnus website.
Commercial vessels
No commercial UK vessels are authorised to target this stock unless involved in the trial commercial fishery for bluefin tuna in the UK.
The watersbluefin tuna should be released alive and ifunharmed interestedto inthe applyinggreatest forextent possible, logbook vessels must record the discard.
For the protection and conservation of bluefin tuna there is a BFTminimum (catchconservation reference size (MCRS). For bluefin tuna caught in the Eastern Atlantic and release)Mediterranean permitthe forMCRS Englishis waters.30kg or 115cm (fork length).
If the bluefin tuna cannot be returned to the sea alive UK vessels must:
recordallbluefintunaby-catch.reportandlandalldeadbluefintunaaboveMCRS.discardalldeadbluefintunabelowMCRS,vesselsmustrecordalldiscards.
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:
Alimitofoneby-caughtbluefintunaabletobesoldpertripbyvessels.Onlyvesselswithgeartypeswithariskofunavoidableby-catchcansellthisbluefintuna.Thepermissiblegeartypesundertheserequirementsare:-demersaltrawls-pelagictrawls-seinesnets-ringnets-fixednets
ClickThese heremeasures 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 informationsale.
The onMMO may offer this bluefin tuna for scientific research, as part of the Thunnus UK project, the MMO will approve this once reported. Where this isn’t possible at the time of landing you will be required to destroy the bluefin tuna by-catch.
All landed bluefin tuna must be accompanied with an ICCAT Electronic Bluefin Tuna Catch Document (eBCD). For assistance, please contact ukiuuslo@marinemanagement.org.uk
For Non-English administered UK commercial BFTvessels
The fisherylicence 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 UKfuture watersyears.
Northern Irish, Scottish and ifWelsh interestedadministered invessels applyingmust 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 ascientific BFTresearch, licence.as part of the Thunnus UK project, the MMO or UKFMC will approve this once reported. Where this isn’t possible at the time of landing you will be required to destroy the bluefin tuna by-catch.
How to land dead bluefin tuna
ClickUK herevessels landing by-caught bluefin tuna are able to land at any UK designated port. forIf informationyou onare unable to reach a designated port seek advice from the commercialUK BFTFisheries bycatchMonitoring rules.Centre (UKFMC).
EachWhen pagean aboveEnglish providescommercial guidancevessel onintends 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 recreationalthe MMO UK single liaison office or commercialUKFMC.
Alongside activitystandard relatingreporting requirements, all UK vessels must report all by-caught bluefin tuna which is dead to BFT.the ItMMO includes: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.
- What
Whenisreportingprohibited.betweenthehoursof08:00–20:00GMTMonday–Fridayreportthisby-catchtotheMMOUKsingleliaisonoffice(UKSLO)on03300416585orukiuuslo@marinemanagement.org.uk - What
Whenareportingpermitbetweenorthelicencehoursallowsoffor.20:00–08:00GMTMonday–Fridayandweekendsreportthisby-catchtotheUKFMCon01312442286orUKFMC@gov.scot
When reporting ensure you have the following information ready:
- Eligibility
totalcriteria.bluefintunaweight - How
numberandcaught vesselwhendetailslicensetodetailswhichapply.designatedportoflanding- Fishers’
trader,responsibilities.ifselling
PleaseMMO note:or VesselUKFMC ownersuse cannotthis secureinformation bothto create an electronic bluefin tuna catch document (eBCD). Landing or selling bluefin tuna without a recreationalcompleted BFTand permitvalidated 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 commercialcatch BFTrecord licenceno 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.
Commercial trial fishery 2023 - Closed 31/12/23
Closed on the 31 of December 2023, the MMO and Defra piloted a trial commercial fishery for bluefin tuna in the sameUK on vessel.behalf of the UK Fisheries Authorities.
The trial fishery opened on the 1 August and was extended from 30 November to 31 December 2023.
If you have any questions about the trial, please contact the UKSIA. Email UKSIA@marinemanagement.org.uk
Last updated 28
-
Thursday 28 March 2024 update.
-
Updates refer to the closure of both of last year’s CHART and BFT trials.
-
Links removed and three references to MMO changed to MMO UK single liaison office
-
Guidance update
-
Update
-
Update on commercial trial fishery 2023
-
Application details added to.
-
Attachment changed to pdf
-
Updated re commercial trial 2023
-
Status update
-
Updated Dead Tuna
-
First published.
Update history
2024-03-28 10:00
Thursday 28 March 2024 update.
2024-01-03 11:25
Updates refer to the closure of both of last year’s CHART and BFT trials.
2023-11-14 14:44
Links removed and three references to MMO changed to MMO UK single liaison office
2023-08-14 15:51
Guidance update
2023-07-15 00:01
Update
2023-07-14 14:50
Update on commercial trial fishery 2023
2023-07-13 09:21
Application details added to.
2023-06-27 17:00
Attachment changed to pdf
2023-06-23 11:50
Updated re commercial trial 2023