Western Morning News (Saturday)
Greens hit out at calls for tuna angling in West
AROW is brewing over calls to open up the South West to big game fishermen pursuing bluefin tuna now the species is making a comeback in Westcountry waters.
Pressure to licence anglers to catch, tag and release the huge fish – revered around the world by sport fisherman – came initially from Torbay. Other South West ports along the region’s coastline are also calling for a sport fishery to be established. But opponents say the plan is “irresponsible.”
Charter boat owners believe that licensing the targeting of bluefin tuna would boost tourism in the South West, with anglers travelling from across the UK and abroad to pitch themselves against the giant fish.
Labour’s shadow environment secretary Luke Pollard, the MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, and Conservative Derek Thomas (St Ives) have both called on the Government to pilot a science-led project off the South West to allow sports angling for tuna.
But speaking for Cornwall Green Party, marine conservationist Samuel Ramsden said it was wrong to describe such a plan as conservation.
“Bluefin tuna are an endangered species, and any tagging that needs to be done should only be carried out as part of limited and strictly controlled projects, such as that being undertaken by the University of Exeter. Calling for a big expansion in so-called ‘sport fishing’ is simply irresponsible,” he said.
“With most fish species, their immune systems are directly affected by stress, which floods their bodies with hormones that can damage them, make them more prone to infection and secondary disease, and shorten their lifespan or even kill them.”
He went on: “Line fishing in particular is very traumatic for the fish, and just because they’re released alive doesn’t mean they’ll stay that way for long afterwards. You physically pierce the fish’s mouth and gill area with a hook, you exhaust them by wearing them down and landing them, and then they’re out of the water for several minutes whilst you not only tag them but also measure them, weigh them, and take photos. It’s really not good for the fish.”
Government regulations say that sea anglers must not target bluefin tuna unless this is as part of the limited and strictly controlled ThunnusUK tagging programme. A Defra spokesperson said that “despite some early signs of improvements to bluefin tuna stocks, there are still high levels of uncertainty around the extent of the recovery of this iconic species”.
Mr Pollard, who has sided with conservationists and animal activists on other issues, said he backs the catching of bluefin tuna on rod and line, which could bring benefits to the hard-hit Westcountry tourist industry.
“In Parliament I have argued that a new catch and release fishery would create new jobs in tourism across the South West and give a boost to charter boat operators after a tough year,” he said. Mr Thomas said: “I know charter boat operators would seize the opportunity of being able to participate in a catch and release fishery for bluefin tuna. It could be a real tourism boost for Cornwall and Devon.”