A public meeting, arranged by Fishing News and set for the morning of May 19th in Newlyn, will be chaired by St Ives MP Andrew George. George offered to mediate in an effort to find a solution agreeable to all stakeholders involved in the contentious issue of 2025 bluefin tuna licenses.
The core of the issue lies in the upcoming 2025 bluefin tuna season, scheduled to begin on July 1st. The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has yet to contact successful commercial sector applicants to confirm their licenses. Last year, 13 licenses were granted, each with a 3-tonne quota. This number has slightly increased to 15 licenses for 2025. However, the licensing process in 2024 left many of the 80 unsuccessful applicants feeling aggrieved. Adding further complexity, Defra has indicated a significant increase in "catch and release" licenses for 2025, sparking worries about potential mortality and its subsequent impact on UK quotas.
Andrew George stated,
"The return of bluefin tuna is a success, though it presents obvious challenges. I look forward to hearing from expert speakers to ensure we get to the facts about all the risks and opportunities."
"Fisheries minister Daniel Zeichner has told me he is looking forward to hearing how it goes, and if we can draw any conclusions to inform Defra's plans for licence conditions for the 2025 bluefin tuna season, which starts on 1 July."
George hopes that "our discussion will conclude with an agreeable balance between support for sustainable fishing, allowing the bluefin tuna population to continue to thrive, and effective marine conservation which – amongst many other things – has helped to create these fishing opportunities.”
