Introduction and Vessel Details

Introduction

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and Defra have launched for a second year a trial UK commercial fishery for bluefin tuna (BFT). The aim of the trial is to evaluate the sustainability of a small scale commercial BFT fishery and the social and economic benefits this new fishery could potentially provide to UK fishers.

This trial will consist of 13 commercial vessels able to fish for BFT with 3 tonnes of quota per vessel. The fishery will be open from 1 July to 31 December 2024.

Please note this application is only for the commercial trial fishery. Details on the recreational Catch and Release BFT (CRRF) trial fishery is available on https://www.gov.uk/guidance/plans-for-the-2024-bluefin-tuna-bft-catch-and-release-recreational-fisheries (opens in new tab).

In the event that an applicant is successful through the commercial application process, and the applicant chooses to accept the commercial authorisation, they will be ineligible to apply for the recreational CRRF BFT permit for the same vessel.

 To be eligible to apply you must: 

• Have a commercial fishing licence and be registered in either England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland. 

• Apply for a vessel of 12 metres and under in overall length. 

• Agree to have individual fishing trips last less than 24 hours in duration. 

• Agree to use rod and reel fishing gears only. No chumming will be permitted.  

• Agree to record all catches of bluefin tuna and submit an eBCD record for all landings (see reporting conditions).

Applications must be completed on an individual basis per vessel. No group applications will be accepted or applications for more than one vessel per application.

You cannot save and return to this form later. If you close down this application before submitting, you will need to start again. Therefore please make sure you are ready to apply when starting this application.

Applicants will be required to complete vessel, nominee and owner details. Applicants will also need to provide answers to two questions which relate to how applicants are best placed to deliver an environmentally sustainable fishery which brings economic and social benefits to the United Kingdom.      

Consideration will also be given to an applicant’s history of compliance with regulatory requirements relating to fishing. Further detail on what will be considered is available in the terms and conditions.