Bluefin tuna (BFT) commercial fishery within UK waters

Permitted BFT fishery viathrough licence authorisationauthorisation 

• The

  For 2025 the UK has an66.15 annual 230.56 tonnes of BFT quotaquota. 

  The forUK 2026–2028.

• 120will use 45 tonnes willof supportthe quota to continue to the 2026UK commercial fishery usingfor lowvessels impactfishing with low-impact rod and reel gear.
• Thegears. MMOLicence authorisations will runbe theavailable UK‑widefor up to 15 vessels, accessed through an application process;process. The authorisations45 tonnes of quota will be issuedsplit byequally between the relevantsuccessful fisheriesapplicants, administration.
• Upresulting toin 30each authorisation receiving 3 tonnes of quota.

  Commercial fishing vessels from England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland may apply to take part, but fishing for and landing BFT will not be authorised,permitted eachin receivingWelsh 4or tonnes.

• Northern Irish waters in 2025. 

  The fishery is scheduledexpected forto mid‑Julybe open from 1 July to 31 December 2026.

• The2025 TACsubject cycleto willvessel’s beICCAT reviewedregistry, annually, with the intentionquota managed by the MMO who reserve the right to expandre-distribute quota if required during the fisheryyear. 

  Licence gradually.

• Fishingauthorisations will be non-transferable and valid for BFTthe is2025 restrictedfishing toseason UKonly. watersLicence butauthorisations will not permittedprovide insuccessful Northernapplicants Irishwith watersa track record for future quota considerations and provide no guarantee of access to bluefin tuna quota in 2026.
• Crownfuture. 

  The Dependencyauthorisation will allow a controlled number of vessels maythe applyability ifto theyland holdand asell UKBFT, vesselprovided licence.

• Allreporting BFTconditions landedare bemet. accompaniedFailure withto anmeet ICCATthese Electronicconditions Bluefincan Tunaresult Catchin Documentan (eBCD).

authorisation being suspended or removed. 

Eligibility criteria

ApplicantsCommercial must:fishing licence holders who meet specific mandatory criteria can apply to take part. 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: 

• holdHave a valid UK commercial fishing licence and be registered in either England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland.
• applyApply for a vessel of 12 metres and under in overall length.
• agreeAgree allto have individual fishing trips willlast beless underthan 24 hours in duration.
• Agree to use rod and reel onlyfishing (nogears chumming)only. No chumming will be permitted.
• Agree to record all catches of bluefin tuna and completesubmit ICCATan eBCD documentationrecord for all landings (see reporting conditions).
• landLand catches in UK designated ports – see designated port list.

Applicants cannot hold both a commercial BFT authorisation and a recreational CRRF BFT permit for the same vessel.

When completing the commercial BFT application form applicants will be asked to select which permit they would wish to receive if they were successful in both.

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

How to applyenter (2026an application for the 2025 BFT commercial fishery  

Quota for the BFT fishery)commercial fishery will be distributed through an application process.

• The 2025 application windowform iscan 10:00be 8 April toaccessed 23:59 30 Aprilfrom 2026.

20 March 2025, with the application period closing at midnight on 21 April 2025. Applications submitted outside this period will not be considered.

Online application form

Application rules:

• Applicants must applymeet —the thereeligibility iscriteria noand rolloversubmit froman previousapplication years.
• within the application period. Applications submitted outside this windowperiod will not be considered.
• OneAnswer 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 vesselvessel. (noNo group applications will be accepted or multi‑vesselapplications applications).for more than one vessel per application.
• Applicants mustwill providebe vessel,required owner,to nomineecomplete details,vessel, nominee, and informationowner on:
  details.
  • Applicants will also need to provide answers to two questions which relate to how theyapplicants willare supportbest placed to deliver an environmentally sustainable fishery
  • potential which brings economic and social benefits to the UKUK.
• Consideration will also be given to an applicant’s history of compliance with regulatory requirements relating to fishing.

• AIn linkthe toevent that an applicant is successful through the commercial application formprocess, and the applicant chooses to accept the commercial authorisation, they will appearbe onineligible thisto pageapply fromfor 8a April.the recreational CRRF BFT permit for the same vessel.

  By

• In applying,submitting your application, you agree that the MMO maywill retain your information until the endclosed of the 20262025 season.

YouIf mustyou passexperience eachany section inproblems ordercompleting for yourthis applicationapplication, tocontact gothe forwardUK tosingle issuing authority (UKSIA) before the ballot. close of the application period at BFT.Commercial@marinemanagement.org.uk 

YouIf mustyou passneed allto 8complete questionsan inoffline sectionversion 4of andthis confirmform theor twoa statements.paper Weversion, haveplease brokencontact BFT.Commercial@marinemanagement.org.uk down A somepdf version of the questionsapplication intois smalleravailable segmentshere:

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Unfortunately, due to enter. the volume of applications received individual feedback will not be provided.

Next Steps

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  Youan mustenvironmentally answersustainable allfishery questions.

  which 2026brings Commercialeconomic BFTand fisherysocial applicationbenefits

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• Only applications that setsscore out3 howor to4 approach(information answeringon scoring is available in the application) on both questions setwill outbe included in sectionthe 4.
  random selection.

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