The return of Atlantic bluefin tuna to UK waters has been a wonder to witness. A stunning marine animal, that leaps out of the water like a dolphin, speeds like a racehorse, and is bigger than a polar bear—and yet all of this is clouded by the word tuna, which seems to equal food. And not just any food; as bluefin is one of the most expensive fish in the world, the thought of the economic benefits of catching and selling bluefins clearly erases any feeling of awe for this animal, as well as making us forget about all past mistakes. Overfishing has already caused the disappearance of bluefin from our waters once. Are we risking this again?
Return of Atlantic bluefin tuna - a story of hope?
Carli Cocciardi, DWT's Marine Nature Recovery Officer, reflects on the return of the bluefin tuna and the future for this stunning animal.
The bluefin tuna leaps out of the water like a dolphin, speeds like a racehorse, and is bigger than a polar bear.
The comeback of the Atlantic bluefin tuna to English waters is a story of hope and optimism for conservation, showing the resilience and beauty of our marine life. However, not long after their reappearance and only after a couple of years of research and monitoring of this population, the government decided to trial a small-scale commercial fishery for the bluefin. Disappointed as we were, we did see the intent in keeping the fishery well-managed, for rod and line only, and small-scale. Had a fishery needed to be opened, this seemed to be getting it right.
This thought dissolved when, on 27 February on Farming Today, Mark Spencer, our Minister for Food, Farming and Fisheries, said that due to the current fishing bans on pollack, fishers should start diversifying their catches, suggesting that Atlantic bluefin tuna is one of the “big areas of interest”*. We should be investigating and resolving the cause of the crash in pollack stocks and seeking sustainable approaches to fishing, rather than simply moving our attentions to bluefin as the next fishing opportunity. Otherwise, the return of the spectacular bluefin to our waters could be very short lived indeed. We must learn from our mistakes and celebrate, study and protect this impressive animal.
*At present, the UK government have not announced plans for commercial bluefin tuna fishing and have rules in place around catching this species.