Atlantic bluefin tuna populations recover in UK waters

Atlantic bluefin tuna populations are thriving in UK waters following a collapse caused by overfishing in the mid-1960s. Scientists and the fishing industry are collaborating to monitor the species, which has seen a dramatic increase in numbers over the last decade.

Dr. Lucy Hawkes, an ecology professor at the University of Exeter, noted that previous excessive catches of juvenile tuna prevented the population from reproducing effectively. Through the Thunnus UK international research project, scientists have used tagging to better understand tuna ecology, benefiting from the observations of fishermen who are frequently on the water.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) described the recovery as ‘one of the most exciting developments in our fisheries for decades’. Consequently, the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has approved the highest number of permits and catch quotas ever granted to fishermen for this species.