Bluefin tuna (BFT) fisheries in 2025
Applications and guidance for the 2025 Bluefin tuna (BFT) commercial fishery is now available. Information on the English catch and release recreational fishery will be available in April.
Commercial Bluefin tuna 2025
The UK has a quota allocation of 66.15 tonnes of bluefin tuna in 2025, from this, 45 tonnes will be used for the commercial fishery. MMO aim to issue licence authorisations for 15 commercial vessels with three tonnes of quota per vessel. The fishery will be open from 1 July to 31 December 2025.聽聽
The application period will be open from 20 March to 21 April 2025.聽聽
To be eligible to apply you must:聽
- Hold a commercial fishing licence and be registered in either England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland.聽
- Apply for a vessel of 12 metres and under in overall length.聽
- Agree to limit each fishing trip targeting bluefin tuna to no more than 24 hours.聽
- Agree to use rod and reel fishing gears only. No chumming will be permitted.聽聽
- Agree to record all catches of bluefin tuna and submit an Electronic Bluefin Tuna Catch Document (eBCD) record for all landings.聽
Incomplete applications or those submitted after the deadline will not be considered. For further information and to apply please visit /guidance/bluefin-tuna-bft-commercial-fishery-within-uk-waters.
Recreational Bluefin tuna 2025
Information on the English catch and release recreational fishery will be available in April.
Bluefin Tuna Catch and Release Recreational Fishery (CRRF) 2024
Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has published Bluefin Tuna Catch and Release Recreational Fishery (CRRF) Statistics 2024. You can find more information on the statistics here.