TAGGING TAKES OFF

Could a new project bring recreational tuna fishing in the UK?

State-of-the-art satellite tags will be used in a new UK project to track the movements of bluefin tuna, which have returned to UK waters after an absence of 60 years.

At some point in the future more knowledge about these fish could lead to a legitimate recreational tuna fishery in the UK.

The Thunnus UK project is a two-year collaboration between Defra, Cefas and the University of Exeter, designed to find out more about these magnificent fish.

It’s something the Angling Trust has been pushing the Government’s scientists at Cefas to do for the last couple of years.

The project will use satellite tags on up to 40 fish in an effort to understand where and when Atlantic bluefin tuna are found in British waters; where Atlantic bluefin tuna go when they are not in UK coastal waters; where Atlantic bluefin tuna found in UK waters go to breed; and the interactions between Atlantic bluefin tuna and both commercial and recreational fisheries. The information will improve knowledge of the species, ultimately assisting its future conservation.

Successful projects have already been carried out in Ireland and in the Baltic with Swedish and Danish angler involvement. More knowledge about these fish could lead to a legitimate recreational tuna fishery in the UK.

For the time being the tagging project is focused on scientific research and conservation of the stock.

Recreational targeting or landing of bluefin tuna is banned, and any caught accidentally should be released immediately.

The Angling Trust will be helping the project by providing anglers with details of how they can report bluefin tuna sightings, catches and interactions from around the UK. The Trust will help to circulate details of the tendering process for skippers and vessels wishing to be involved in the tagging project.

ARGUING FOR ANGLING

A multi-million-pound recreational tuna fishery is one of the examples the Angling Trust used in a ‘vision’ for the UK, should the new post-Brexit Fisheries Bill include development goals for recreational fishing.

The Trust recently submitted a second stage briefing to Defra officials, setting out the importance of the new bill recognising the public’s sovereign right to fish and the immense benefits that could be delivered if some stocks were managed for recreational fishing.

For example, a report from Canada estimated that live-released bluefin from recreational fishing have the potential to generate up to six times more revenue on a tonne per tonne basis than a commercially-caught bluefin. That’s right. It’s a no-brainer, isn’t it?

Evidence suggests that similar benefits of recreational fishing apply to other species such as bass. We are applying pressure to make sure you, your children and grandchildren get

the best possible future for sea angling in the future in the UK. It’s impossible to overstate how important it is for anglers to start thinking about this more seriously and not just think that leaving the EU will make everything all right. It won’t unless you fight for it!

The Trust needs you to get behind us and make the pressure count when the time comes.

If you want to help, the easiest thing you can do right now is register for our free newsletters by visiting anglingtrust.net/subscribe. It’s free and easy to do. ■