Campaigns

05 March 2020

Angling group calls for catch & release tuna project for 2020

The Angling Trust and campaign group Bluefin Tuna UK have written to Defra calling on the government to sanction a new catch & release tagging project for bluefin tuna in UK waters in 2020.

The project would allow recreational anglers to contribute much needed ‘citizen science’ by tagging and releasing bluefin tuna in order to provide crucial data needed to manage the stock.

The proposal comes only days after Ireland announced its own ‘Catch And Release Tagging programme (CHART) would continue in 2020 and, all being well, into 2021 and 2022. Last year Irish anglers tagged 219 tuna providing scientists and fisheries managers with crucial data they would not otherwise have been able to collect.

Sweden and Denmark have both also seen successful catch & release tagging projects which, like the Irish one, have taken advantage of a recent rule change by the International Council for the Conservation of Atlantic tuna (ICCAT). The Angling Trust and Bluefin Tuna UK believe the UK government should be doing the same.

Both organisations agree that any catch & release tagging project could work alongside the continuation of Thunnus UK, the government-funded satellite tagging project which has operated in UK waters for the last year and is seeking funding to continue operating in 2020. Satellite tagging and conventional ‘spaghetti’ tagging would be complementary providing different information and improving our understanding of the emergence of bluefin tuna in UK waters over recent years.

David Mitchell, Head of Marine at the Angling Trust, said:

“Anglers catching, tagging, and releasing bluefins in a controlled and responsible way can provide cost effective and large scale scientific information on the stock which will be essential evidence to the government when the UK joins ICCAT and quotas are negotiated later this year.”

Share

You might also like




Campaigns
23 December 2024

Young angler, scientist and environmentalist shortlisted for prestigious marine…

Hannah Rudd, the Angling Trust’s Marine Policy and Advocacy Manager, has been shortlisted for the pr…
Read more
Angling Trust
20 December 2024

Youtube star Amie Battams to become Angling Trust Ambassador

Amie with Martin Salter, Angling Trust Head of Policy Amie Battams, a passionate fly-fishing angler…
Read more
Beyond the Breakers
19 December 2024

Approved! Sussex IFCA Minimum Size Byelaw: What Sea Anglers…

Sussex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA) has announced the approval of its Minimum…
Read more
Beyond the Breakers
19 December 2024

UK Must Not Buckle to Brussels Over Fishing Access

Brussels is set to demand that Britain surrender its fishing rights and adhere to European Union law…
Read more
Beyond the Breakers
18 December 2024

Joint Fisheries Statement: What Sea Anglers Need to Know

As sea anglers, we’re always thinking about the future of our fisheries. Ensuring our seas are full…
Read more
Competitions
17 December 2024

TWO NEW SPONSORS ANNOUNCED FOR ANGLING TRUST SEA LEAGUE…

  The Angling Trust are delighted to reveal two new sponsors will take over the PENN Sea League…
Read more
Competitions
17 December 2024

SINGLE FISH WINS BRITISH PIKE CHAMPS FINAL 2024

Most matches need dozens of fish to get you over the winning line, but the world of pike fishing is…
Read more
Beyond the Breakers
13 December 2024

Overdue Changes to Channel Commercial Fisheries Introduced… But Are…

The UK Government is finally implementing the Fisheries Management Plan (FMP) program, which recentl…
Read more
Lines On The Water
13 December 2024

FIP Support for Community’s Astonishing Legacy

Since its inception, The Fisheries Improvement Programme (FIP) has supported angling clubs and fishi…
Read more
Beyond the Breakers
12 December 2024

2025 UK-EU Fishing Agreement Charts Dangerous Path

This year, UK and EU decision-makers have reached agreements on commercial fishing limits that threa…
Read more
Marine
12 December 2024

Sea Anglers Tackle Water Quality and Litter Pollution in…

The Angling Trust is thrilled to announce the launch of two innovative projects funded by the Fisher…
Read more
Lines On The Water
12 December 2024

Book Review – Forgotten Fen by Gareth Craddock

In my view, the real test of a fishing book is “does it make you want to go fishing”. In the case of…
Read more