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The Angling Trust – the body that represents anglers in England and Wales – has called on the UK government to do more to ensure that fishing for bluefin tuna is accessible to anglers in a fair and equitable way and is sustainably expanded.
Its remarks follow a hugely successful catch and release trial season last year in waters off the south-west coast of England which took place for just over 21 weeks between August and December.
Figures released by the UK government’s Marine Management Organisation (MMO) show that in total 3,359 bluefin tuna were caught – an average of 3.3 fish – during 838 (83%) of the 1,014 trips.
The average length of the tuna boated was 167.7m and weighed 95.5kg. The majority – 98.7% – were released in ‘good to excellent’ condition with a reported 0.21% mortality rate before release.
Of the 93 vessels issued with permits, 81 were active at least once during the 2024 season.
The UK has a quota allocation of 66 tons of Bluefin Tuna for 2025, with 45 tons allocated to the commercial fishery.
The Angling Trust said: “Anglers in England have experienced a unique opportunity to be part of something extraordinary – the creation of a world-class bluefin tuna catch and release fishery that puts science, sustainability and angling at its heart. Recreational anglers and skippers have been at the forefront of this development to ensure that this fishery delivers for anglers, our seas and the coastal communities.
“This is only the second year that this fishery has been open. It is early days and clear that the MMO and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) have a lot to do to stabilise the management and operation of this fishery and rebuild the trust needed for us all to have confidence it will be a secure, well managed fishery.”
Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond, the Angling Trust is setting out a vision for the recreational bluefin tuna fishery and says it will be holding the government to account.
Its key areas of concern that it has raised with Defra and the MMO include:
- Improving accessibility for applicants and sustainably expanding the fishery whilst promoting best-practice fish care and handling;
- Adopting multi-year permits to provide assurance and financial security to recreational businesses;
- Streamlining the approach to training, and the need for training or a clear demonstration of skills and experience to be mandatory;
- Strengthening enforcement by the MMO and the IFCAs (Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities) and a zero tolerance policy to illegal fishing;
- Communicating the importance of effective data collection to improve the fishery for both anglers and fish;
- Publishing data in a transparent and timely manner.
The Angling Trust added that it will be writing to the government minister responsible to set out its key concerns.
The renaissance of bluefin tuna fishing off the UK coastline is expected to bring economic benefits for the recreational fishing industry and coastal communities in the region, but Steve Murphy, CEO of the UK Bluefin Tuna Association (UKBFTA), told Angling International that the trade has been behind the curve in terms of support.
“The first-ever UK Bluefin Tuna Championship in Cornwall last year was an absolutely incredible experience and 50 fish were boated during the event. However, Shimano was the only significant tackle company that backed it with sponsorship. There are major opportunities for the industry to get behind bluefin tuna fishing in UK waters.”
