Giant Bluefin Tuna Caught Off British Coast Sets New National Record
A 9-foot-long, 621-pound bluefin tuna has shattered a British national record, highlighting a resurgence in the species' population in UK waters.
Fishermen have landed a record-breaking 9-foot-long, 621-pound bluefin tuna off the coast of Britain. The massive fish, caught using rod and line near Brixham, Devon, significantly surpasses the previous record held by Brixham Fish Market, England's largest. This specimen is approximately 160 pounds heavier than the prior record holder.
Experts estimate the tuna is large enough to yield around 500 portions of premium tuna. It was sold at auction to Flying Fish Seafoods, a company whose clientele includes Michelin-starred restaurants, where single plates of bluefin tuna can command prices between £20 and £45.
British waters, particularly off the southwest coast, have seen a substantial increase in the bluefin tuna population over the past decade, supporting a thriving and sustainable fishery. This resurgence was also noted last month when the first bluefin tuna was caught in Whitby, East Yorkshire, in 60 years, indicating their return to the North Sea as well.
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has issued special licenses to 30 fishing vessels, allowing them to catch and sell a limited quota of tuna.
Barry Young, managing director of Brixham Trawler Agents, emphasized the growing importance of tuna to the UK fishing industry. "Landing a 282kg bluefin tuna is a fantastic achievement for Brixham Fish Market. It's a record-breaking fish of exceptional quality," Young stated. He added that with only 30 licensed vessels permitted to land bluefin commercially in the UK, this catch is particularly noteworthy. "We've already sold over 17 tonnes of bluefin tuna, with more than 200 fish landed this year, and those figures continue to grow," he reported. Young highlighted the catch as a "fantastic moment for Brixham and its fishing heritage" and a "valuable additional opportunity for Brixham's licensed vessels," contributing to activity within the fish market and the broader supply chain.
The capture of this 282kg tuna is considered an exceptional example of the size and quality now being landed, with fish weighing between 200-300kg increasingly encountered in the region.