Bluefin tuna (BFT) fisheries in 2026

2026 Commercial Bluefin tuna fishery

The UK has an annual quota allocation of 230 tonnes of the bluefin tuna from 2026 to2028.

120 tonnes of quota will be used for the commercial fishery in 2026.

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) will run the UK wide application process for the commercial bluefin tuna fishery. Licence authorisations will be issued by the relevant fisheries administrations to successful applicants. Approximately 30 commercial vessels will receive authorisations in total, each with an allocation of four tonnes of quota. The authorised fishery is scheduled to open from mid-July to 31 December 2026.

The 2026 commercial Bluefin tuna application period is expected to open on 30 March and close 23:59 24 April.

Those interested have to apply via the 2026 commercial BFT application process. This includes any applicants that were successful in last year’s commercial application process.

The authorisation only allows fishing for BFT within UK waters excluding Northern Irish waters. To be eligible to apply you must: 

• Hold a valid UK commercial fishing licence. 
• Have 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 how to apply please visit:

Find out more

2026 Bluefin Tuna Catch and Release Recreational fishery

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) will open a bluefin tuna (BFT) catch and release recreational fishery (CRRF) in English waters in 2026 and will issue around 150 permits through its application process.

The 2026 fishing season will run from mid-July to 30 November 2026. To take part in the 2026 CRRF, you must apply for a permit through the MMO’s application process which will be open from 24 March until 23:59 13 April 2026.  All applicants - including those who held a BFT permit in 2025 - must apply if they wish to participate in 2026.

The MMO CRRF permit only allows BFT fishing within English waters. Applicants wishing to operate outside English waters, for example in Welsh waters, will need to apply through the relevant fisheries authority.

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

• Your vessel must not be less than 5 metres in overall length and must be powered by an engine/motor.

• 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 (SCV). You will be required to submit evidence of the certificate.

• Applicants cannot hold more than one bluefin tuna (BFT) permit for the same vessel in a single season. If you are successful in this permit process, you cannot:
  • hold a BFT CRRF permit issued by another UK fisheries administration for the same vessel, or
  • hold a permit for the 2026 UK commercial BFT fishery for the same vessel.

• If you are successful with an offer of a MMO BFT CRRF permit, you agree that you will be required to complete both the Angling Trust accredited online and in person mandatory training before the permit is issued.

• Only apply if you intend to use the permit. This will be monitored and failure to actively use the permit and/or report all activity to the MMO may result in the MMO revoking the permit and potentially future BFT applications being rejected.

• Submit a complete application with all the required information before the submission deadline. No late or incomplete applications will be accepted. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure the completeness of their application.

Changes coming into effect for 2026

Angling Trust, Defra, the MMO, Cefas, Natural England and sector representatives have jointly developed mandatory training, which is accredited by Angling Trust.

Applicants who are successful in the permit application process will receive a conditional offer and must complete this accredited training syllabus before a permit can be issued.

The MMO will only issue a permit once the required training has been successfully completed.

For further information about the application process, mandatory training, fishery rules, timelines and how to apply please visit:

Find out more

A guide explaining how the catch and release recreational fishery was developed and managed, including the safeguards that are in place to support this year’s fishery is available here.

Bluefin Tuna Catch and Release Recreational Fishery statistics:

Marine Management Organisation (MMO) publish annual Bluefin Tuna Catch and Release Recreational Fishery (CRRF) Statistics. You can find more information on these statistics here.