Just how much is tuna worth?

At first sight you have to marvel at the distance steamed by some fishing vessels to fish at the much disputed Rockall - around two days if you fish from Fleetwood. However, if you are...

a Japanese longliner Kinsai Maru No1 which was launched earlier this year and is now on her maiden voyage...

from Japan, where she left around the 17th of September to begin the almost three month steam across two oceans, first the Pacific and then the Atlantic to fish at Rockall - makes you wonder just how much tuna (assumedly bluefin) - that she has to catch to justify such a long steam for a brand new vessel!

Individual bluefin tuns have made up to £2.3 million pounds on Tokyo's famous fish market - but they are landed fresh.

Bluefin tuna off Devon and Cornwall

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Reports have again been received of bluefin tuna appearing in UK waters. 

Atlantic bluefin tuna is recognised as an endangered species by the WWF and the IUCN Red List.

The UK has no specific quota to catch bluefin tuna.

Countries which are able to fish for bluefin tuna commercially are listed on the EC website. In normal circumstances bluefin tuna is a prohibited species for UK fishing vessels.

Commercial

Vessels must not target bluefin tuna and if caught accidentally they must be returned to the sea, alive and unharmed to the greatest extent possible.

Recreational

Sea anglers must not target bluefin tuna, any caught as a by-catch when targeting other species must be released immediately and not landed or brought onto the boat. This applies unless recreational catches are part of an ICCAT tagging project. If you find a bluefin tuna you should report this to the nearest MMO office. Sightings of shoals of the species at sea can also be reported to the ICCAT.

Further guidance on bluefin tuna regulations applicable to UK vessels can be found on the GOV.UK website.

Amy Wardlaw, MMO, Posted on:4 September 2017 - Categories:marine conservation