New bluefin tuna licences granted for trials

Five new licences have been granted to fishermen to catch and kill bluefin tuna.

The licences form part of new commercial and scientific bluefin tuna trials which will use 26 tonnes of the UK's 2026 bluefin tuna quota and operate in Wales, Jersey and Scotland.

This comes after fishermen in Jersey expressed "huge disappointment" in July after six applied for tuna licences and only one was granted.

The trials, launched by the UK Government, are hoped to improve knowledge about bluefin tuna behaviour, ecology and distribution around the UK and Channel Islands.

Environment minster senator Mary Le Hegarat, said: "Securing five licences for Jersey is a positive step for our fishing industry and reflects the growing presence of bluefin tuna in our waters.

"The information gathered through these trials will help improve our understanding of this species, support sustainable fisheries management and help ensure Jersey can benefit from future opportunities in this developing fishery."

Infrastructure and Environment said the trials were separate from the UK commercial fishery and English recreational fishery and will not affect existing allocations.

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