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.

Permitted BFT fishery through licence authorisation. 

authorisation 

For 20242025 the UK has 66.15 tonnes of BFT quota. 

The UK will use 3945 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 1315 vessels, accessed through an application process. The 3945 tonnes of quota will be split equally between the successful applicants.

Theapplicants, trialresulting will continue to assist in theeach evaluationauthorisation ofreceiving the3 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).quota.

Commercial fishing vessels from England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland may apply to take partpart, in the trial, but fishing for and landing BFT will not be permitted in Welsh or Northern Irish waters in 2024. 2025. 

The fishery is expected to be open from 1 July to 31 December 20242025 subject to vessel’s 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 20242025 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 licenceauthorisation 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 partpart. 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: 

• haveHave a commercial fishing licence and be registered in either England, Scotland, WalesWales, or Northern IrelandIreland.
• haveApply for a vessel of 12 metres orand under in overall length.
• useAgree rodto and reel fishing gears only – no chumming will be permitted.
• have individual fishing trips last less than 24 hours in duration.
• recordAgree allto catchesuse ofrod BFT and submitreel anfishing eBCDgears recordonly. forNo allchumming landingswill (seebe reporting conditions below).permitted.
• agreeAgree to berecord contactedall ascatches part of abluefin formaltuna evaluation of the trial.

Commercial fishing vessels from England, Scotland, Wales, and Northernsubmit Irelandan mayeBCD applyrecord to take part in the trial, but fishing for BFTall willlandings not(see bereporting permittedconditions).

Land catches in Welshdesignated orports Northern– Irishsee watersdesignated inport 2024. 

list.

Applicants cannot ownhold both a commercial BFT licenceauthorisation and a recreational CRRF BFT permit for the same vessel,vessel.

When andcompleting the commercial BFT application form applicants will knowbe whetherasked to select which permit they havewould beenwish successfulto beforereceive theif recreationalthey BFTwere applicationsuccessful periodin opens.both.

MMO and Defra reserve the right to take account of previous infringements by applicants when assessing applications. 

How to applyenter an application for athe 2025 BFT commercial licence. fishery  

InQuota orderfor tothe openBFT upcommercial the fishery will be distributed through an application process.

The 2025 application form can be accessed from 119 JulyMarch 2024,2025, with the application period willclosing openat frommidnight 10:00 on 821 April to2025. 28Applications Aprilsubmitted 2024.outside this period will not be considered.

Online application form

Application rules:

• Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria and submit an application within the application period. Applications submitted outside this period will not be considered.
• Answer all mandatory questions. Incomplete application forms will not be considered and will cause your application to be unsuccessful.

• 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. UK.

  Consideration

• Applicants willmust alsoensure beno givenmaster/owner toin anyour applicant’sapplication historyhas been found guilty of complianceany withfisheries regulatoryoffences requirementsin relatingthe tolast fishing.three Furtheryears detailwhich onresulted whatin willan beOfficial consideredWritten isWarning available(OWW), inFinancial theAdministrative termsPenalties and(FAPs) conditionsor finding of theguilt application.
  by a court.

• 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.

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Applications are open from 10:00 on 8 April to midnightthe volume of 28applications April 2024. Applications received outsideindividual offeedback this period will not be considered. provided.

Next Steps

Due to the commitments made in the 20242025 UK fishing plan to ICCAT there are a limited number of authorisationauthorisations letters available. Therefore,Application submissionsubmissions of this form does not automatically guarantee that you willsuccess receivein anreceiving a BFT commercial authorisation toand you must not fish for BFT.BFT without an authorisation from the MMO.

The applicationsapplication willassessment beprocess assessedis onas afollows:

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• Only fulfilapplications thethat score 3 or 4 (information on scoring is available licencein authorisations. 

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SuccessfulMMO applicants will benotify notifiedsuccessful applicants in earlylate JuneMay. andSuccessful applicants will be given five working days to accept.accept the authorisation. Failing to accept within this timeframe may result in the MMO offering the authorisation to a fisher on the reserved list.     list.    

SuccessfulLicence authorisations will be non-transferable and valid for the 2025 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 BFT quota in future.

If you are successful, you will receive an authorisation letter to fish BFT, this is in addition to your domestic licence. Fishing for BFT must not commence until you have received the letter of authorisation.

Prior to commencing fishing for BFT those whose applications are successful will be required to undertakedo the following:

• Register their vessel on the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) registry via the MMO. Fishing must not begin until 15 days after the successful vessel details appear on the ICCAT registry.
• Register on the ICCAT Electronic Bluefin Tuna Catch Document Programme (eBCD) online system.
• Complete 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.

During Itfishing isfor paramountBFT thatsuccessful applicants must:

• Comply with all landedconditions BFTwithin hastheir andomestic eBCDfishing recordvessel linkedlicence toand additional conditions contained within the landing.authorisation.
• Only Furtherfish guidancefor andbluefin informationtuna willwithin bethe provided.  

  InUK addition,Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), excluding Northern Irish and asWelsh withwaters.

• Have individual fishing trips last year,less vesselsthan will24 havehours toin registerduration.
• Use rod and reel fishing gears only, with theno ICCATchumming registrypermitted.
• Record beforeall successfulcatches applicantsusing canpaper commenceor fishing.electronic ICCATlogbooks haveat asea.
• Report dutyall catches to publishthe thisUK information. 
  Fisheries Monitoring Centre (UKFMC) or UK single liaison office (UKSLO).
• Report all catches on the ICCAT eBCD system.

OnlyIt whenis bothparamount partsthat haveall beenlanded completedBFT willhas aan licenceeBCD berecord issuedlinked to the successfullanding. applicant.Further https://www.iccat.int/en/vesselsrecord.asp guidance and information will be provided. 

If you have any questions or comments, please send them to: BFT.Commercial@marinemanagement.org.uk

Key dates: 

• 19 March to 21 April – Application submission period.
• 21 April to late May – Application review process
• EarlyLate JuneMay – Notification of outcome issued to applicants.
• EarlyLate May to MidMid-June June – Successful applicants register on ICCAT and undertake eBCD reporting training.
• Late June – Licences issued.
• From 1 July to 31 December 20242025 – Fishery period opens.

How

Landing to land dead BFT and reporting conditions. 

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.  

Notifications

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.

• 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

• 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.

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.

URL: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bluefin-tuna-bft-fisheries-in-2025.

Applications and guidance for the 2025 Bluefin tuna (BFT) commercial fishery is now available. Information on the English catch and release recreational fishery will be available in April.

The UK has a quota allocation of 66 tonnes of bluefin tuna in 2025, from this, 45 tonnes will be used for the commercial fishery. MMO aim to issue licence authorisations for 15 commercial vessels with three tonnes of quota per vessel. The fishery will be open from 1 July to 31 December 2025.

The application period will be open from 20 March to 21 April 2025.

To be eligible to apply you must:

• Hold a commercial fishing licence and be registered in either England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland.
• Apply for a vessel of 12 metres and under in overall length.
• Agree to limit each fishing trip targeting bluefin tuna to no more than 24 hours.
• Agree to use rod and reel fishing gears only. No chumming will be permitted.
• Agree to record all catches of bluefin tuna and submit an Electronic Bluefin Tuna Catch Document (eBCD) record for all landings.
• Ensure no master or owner in your application has been found guilty of any fisheries offences in the last three years which resulted in an Official Written Warning (OWW), Financial Administrative Penalty (FAP) or finding of guilt by a court.

Incomplete applications or those submitted after the deadline will not be considered. For further information and to apply please visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bluefin-tuna-bft-commercial-fishery-within-uk-waters