Western Morning News (Saturday)
Angling for ocean giant to begin again
Atlantic bluefin tuna are renowned for being among the biggest, fastest and most valuable fish in the sea. A select number of Westcountry skippers will soon be able to catch – and release – them for the first time thanks to an innovative collaboration bet
FAMED for their size, power and speed, Atlantic bluefin tuna were once a common sight off the British coast and were a popular sport fish in the North Sea in the 1930s to the 1950s.
But by the 1960s they had all but disappeared from UK waters, likely because of a decline in their population and changes in the abundance of their preferred prey.
By the 2000s, the European Union had banned drift-netting for tuna amid concerns for the long-term future of the species, and in 2011 the International Union for the Conservation of Nature listed the status of the stock globally as ‘endangered’.
At home, with no share of the EU’s 16,000 tonne quota, it was illegal for UK anglers to target bluefin tuna, even on a catch-and-release basis.
Accidental bycatch had to be reported to the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), landed whole and unprocessed. They could not be sold or given away unless it was for scientific research and then only with the MMO’s approval.
Recent years, though, have provided a ray of hope with bluefins being seen more frequently in UK waters, particularly during the late summer, autumn and winter as they chase energy-rich fish, such as sprats and herring.
Research led by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) and the University of Exeter established there were almost 1,000 unique observations recorded between 2013 and 2018 by citizen scientists, scientists, fishers and eco-tour leaders. And earlier this year they concluded the tuna were “once again a feature in nearshore waters off the UK and Ireland”.
With that evidence, a Government-funded pilot catch-andrelease programme will go live from August 16. A group of 40 skippers and crew members from fishing ports across the South West and southern England last week completed their specialist training to catch, tag and release Atlantic bluefin tuna.
Among them was Murray Collings who has fished commercially and run charter trips out of Looe for almost 30 years. He is hopeful that it will signal a new era for the port which has long been famed for its shark fishing and been home to the Shark Angling Club of Great Britain since 1953.
“A few of us were looking and were ever-hopeful that this could become a legitimate fishery but it has been a long time coming,” he said.
“It does need to be regulated but the socio-economic benefits of this could be very far reaching because
Our catch, tag and release pilot programme will provide an economic boost for coastal communities MP GEORGE EUSTICE
it’s said that we have one of the top five bluefin fisheries on our doorstep.
“I’m thrilled to bits, not just for Looe but for the county and for the country. We’re just coming out of 18 months of hell with Covid, this will extend our season and the type of anglers we will get to fill these positions are likely to be affluent, global anglers.”
He’s investing about £10,000 in the new venture, primarily on specialist fishing gear, and just needs to install a camera on his boat Swallow II before he can make a start.
“I really can’t praise the course enough,” he added. “I think most, if not all, of us have come away believing we have built a lot of bridges with Cefas and the Marine Management Organisation (MMO).”
Atlantic bluefin tuna have been recorded at up to 1,500lb in weight, although fully mature adults average 6–8ft and weigh about 500lb.
They can migrate over thousands of kilometres in a single year and occupy the coastal waters of Europe and the deep offshore environments of the North Atlantic.
However, despite historic evidence of captures around the UK, little is known about their day-to-day movements and behaviour, how long they stay in British waters and where they go, once they leave.
The so-called CHART programme has brought together a breadth of fishing, science and conservation interests to help build a better picture of the species and its habitats.
The selected skippers will join forces with a team of observers and scientists, as well as other organisations, such as the MMO, Bluefin Tuna UK and Natural England, with the aim of collecting data to improve the science, understanding and management of bluefins.
They include Dan Margetts, also from Looe, Sam Narbett, from St Ives, Chris Gill, from Mevagissey, Matthew Forrester, from Torquay, and Steve Sweet, from Lyme Regis.
Mandatory training in fishing, tagging, fish handling and welfare, along with data collection techniques has been designed to ensure compliance with strict operating standards aiming to safeguard animal welfare and support the conservation objectives.
The completion of their courses means they are on track to be granted scientific licences to fish for the ocean giant up until November.
Environment Secretary George Eustice, MP for Camborne and Redruth, said: “While Atlantic bluefin tuna are increasingly present in UK waters we know little about their movements and time spent here.
“Our catch, tag and release pilot programme will provide an economic boost for local coastal communities, particularly here in the South West, and contribute to international efforts to manage this fish stock effectively for the benefit of future generations”.
Lyle Stantiford, of the Professional Boatman’s Association, who has led charter skipper representation in the consultation process, added: “CHART is a great illustration of the value the charter fishing fleet can bring to important research such as this.
“The recovery in Atlantic Bluefin over the last 10 years and their repeated presence in our waters since around 2015 presents a great opportunity for scientists, anglers and our charter fleet to work together to better understand this change and ensure a sustainable future for them in our waters.”
Steven Murphy, from Bluefin Tuna UK, said the project was a “world class” example of “collaboration and the value that the recreational sea angling sector can bring to important scientific research”.
He said: “Combining the scientific expertise of Cefas, with the great experience of seasoned UK charter skippers and anglers with notable experience of large pelagic species, we have a program which will deliver important scientific data, real economic benefits to coastal communities, and an opportunity for anglers to engage with this iconic sportfish in a professional, managed environment.”
Sophy Phillips, Cefas senior fisheries scientist, added: “Scientific research and citizen science projects have provided evidence that Atlantic bluefin tuna are returning to UK waters in increasing numbers during the summer months. But we still don’t understand enough about these amazing predators.
“CHART offers the potential to fill gaps in our knowledge.”