Guidance

Bluefin tuna (BFT) fisheries in 2025

Applications and guidance for the 2025 Bluefin tuna (BFT) commercial and recreational fisheries is now available.

From:
Marine Management Organisation
Published
27 January 2025
Last updated
2417 April 2025 — See all updates

Commercial Bluefin tuna 2025

The UK has a quota allocation of 66.15 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. 

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.

Recreational Bluefin tuna 2025

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) will open a permitted BFT catch and release recreational fishery (CRRF) in 2025 within English waters.

The authorised fishery is scheduled to open from mid-July and will run until the end of November 2025.

You will need to apply for a permit from the MMO to join this fishery.

The MMO will proceed with the application process that will allow approximately 140 permitted vessels to operate in the BFT CRRF in English waters.

FurtherThe informationapplication period will be providedopen whenfrom 17 April to 18 May 2025.

To be eligible for a permit you must meet the following criteria:

  • You must not have secured a permit for the UK commercial BFT 2025 fishery. See Bluefin tuna (BFT) commercial fishery within UK waters - GOV.UK
  • You must not have secured a permit for another UK BFT CRRF for this 2025 season.
  • Your vessel must not be less than 5 metre in overall length and must be powered by an engine/motor.
  • You will be asked to submit a recent photograph of your vessel with external registration markings on display in your application.
  • You must be the owner of a vessel registered in the United Kingdom under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995. Evidence will be required.
  • If your vessel is used for charter fishing trips, you must hold a valid Small Commercial Vessel Certificate (SCV2). You will be required to submit evidence of the SCV2.

Incomplete application submissions will not be considered, and all remaining applications will be evaluated once the permit application period opens.has closed (18 May).  

For further information and to apply please visit our guidance page.

Bluefin Tuna Catch and Release Recreational Fishery (CRRF) 2024

Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has published Bluefin Tuna Catch and Release Recreational Fishery (CRRF) Statistics 2024. You can find more information on the statistics here.

Updates to this page

Published 27 January 2025
Last updated 2417 April 2025 + show all updates

  1. Thursday 24 April 2025 update.

  2. Recreational Bluefin tuna 2025 update.

  3. First published.

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