UK Bluefin
With the ever growing population of Bluefin Tuna arriving off the coast of the UK in recent years which is thanks to good management of the species. The regulatory body who oversee Tuna species globally have granted a small amount of quota to the UK with the aim of a trial commercial fishery, in 2023 this was distributed between ten vessels with the aim of 13 in 2024.
Eastern Atlantic Bluefin Tuna and the most sought after for the fat content and oily properties of the species which is higher than all the other variants of the species.
Bluefin Tuna require a significant amount of care and appropriate handling to ensure the quality of the fish when delivered to the consumer, this process of care starts the moment the fish is hooked all the way through the supply chain to the end user, our aim is to help develop a practical approach of the care of the fish for both the crew on the catching vessel, the market selling the fish and the transport of the species, this will give confidence to the buyer and create higher demand from the domestic and international markets making the species more valuable.
We are committed to help create and maintain a standard of sustainably caught Eastern Atlantic Bluefin Tuna.
Our Aims
- UK Bluefin aims to help develop the handling and care of fish landed in the the UK Bluefin Tuna Fishery, and over time, we also aim to regularly review and develop the process that certifies the quality of the landed fish giving confidence to buyers
- To Grow and develop the domestic and overseas market for UK caught eastern Atlantic bluefin Tuna, working with stakeholders and other interested parties, we are in contact with buyers from Japan, the usa as well as domestic buyers interested in high quality Bluefin Tuna
Atlantic Bluefin tuna, Thunnus thynnus: Pacific bluefin tuna, Thunnus orientalis; Southern bluefin tuna, Thunnus maccoyii.
The giant among tuna, the species can grow to over 700kg, the fish grows very slowly and doesn't reproduce until it has reached maturity at several years of age.
Can my Bluefin vessel be certified?
Training in the care of Bluefin Tuna is available with certification available to eligible licenced vessels, this will enable the vessel to have the stamp of care attached to landed bluefin tuna
Each fish landed by a certified vessel can be tagged giving the vessel name and date of capture this will then be recognised by the buyer as being "of standard".