The UK's bluefin tuna fishery has officially opened for the 2026 season, marking an important milestone in the development of this emerging fishery. From Monday 13 July, authorised commercial vessels can target bluefin tuna in English, Welsh, and Scottish waters, while permitted recreational catch and release vessels can fish for the species within English waters.
The opportunities for commercial fishermen to land bluefin tuna for sale and for recreational anglers to catch and release the fish have increased significantly this year, thanks to successful negotiations to boost the UK's quota for the species. According to the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), 30 commercial vessels have been awarded permits to fish for bluefin tuna using rod and line this season, which is twice as many as last year. The quota per vessel has also increased from 3 to 4 tonnes.
Recreational permits were awarded to all 89 charter vessels that applied, and the remaining permit offers were awarded by ballot to 56 private vessels. To ensure compliance with the fishery's code of conduct, all charter and private vessels must have a person on board who has passed the bluefin tuna catch and release mandatory training run by the Angling Trust for each trip they make.
Andy Wills, MMO's interim Head of Future Fisheries, stated that the start of the season is an important milestone in the development of this emerging fishery, which features more quota and more permits than ever before. He added that collaboration between MMO, Defra, and stakeholders from a range of sectors has been crucial in getting to this point, and that the welfare of the fish is paramount.