Last updated: 1 October, 2024 @ 11:42
The first of this season’s bluefin tuna has started appearing in fishmarkets in the South West of England.
Last year saw the opening of the UK’s first ever commercial bluefin tuna fishery. Now, fishmarkets in Brixham, Devon and Newlyn, Cornwall have reported the first landings of tuna from this year’s fishery, which opened on 1 July.
Building on the success of last year’s trial fishery, this year, an extra three licenses were granted to fishing vessels to fish for bluefin tuna – bringing the total to 13.
For 2024, a quota of 39 tonnes has been allocated, split between the 13 vessels.
Big bluefin tuna landed
Several large bluefin tuna have already been landed, with both Brixham and Newlyn fishmarkets seeing a good number of fish weighing over 100kg up for auction.
Prices have also started well, with one 126kg bluefin tuna landed to Newlyn fishmarket selling for £18.56/kg.
Huge tuna industry
Between June 2022 and 2023, consumers in the UK spent £408.5m on tuna products.
However, bluefin tuna is mostly sold to the restaurant trade, with some of the fish landed from the South West fishery going to London, as well as local restaurants in Devon and Cornwall.
You can read more about the different types of tuna available on the UK market in our blog post, Name that tuna.
Read more about South West bluefin tuna
The South West Handline Fishermen’s Association has more information about the South West bluefin tuna fishery.
(Image: Ed Dunens)