Fisheries Regulations and Atlantic tuna

WQ.29/2026

WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

BY DEPUTY J. RENOUF OF ST. BRELADE

QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 9th FEBRUARY 2026 ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 16th FEBRUARY 2026

Question

"In relation to the proposed  Draft Sea Fisheries (Atlantic Bluefin Tuna) (Jersey) Regulations 202- (P.21/2026), will the Minister advise how many boats were authorised to target Atlantic bluefin tuna in 2025, how many fish were caught and what the value was to the fishing fleet of this activity; and, further to the stated intention to extend the fishery to commercial fishing in 2026, will the Minister state –

1. when implementation of this extension is planned to take place;
2. the number of tuna to be targeted;
3. the proposed route to market (quayside selling, fishmonger, supermarket); and
4. whether investment will be required (and, if so, how much) to catch and sell the fish in a manner which meets hygiene standards?"

Answer

In 2025, one vessel was authorised for catch and release charter fishing for Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (ABT). In total, this one vessel completed five fishing trips and caught and released one ABT. The low catch rates and number of days was reported due to poor weather and receiving the authorisation late in the season. This, in turn, was due to the lengthy ICCAT ratification process which has now concluded. The value of this to the local economy has not been calculated as research is needed on whether the anglers onboard the charter vessel were visiting specifically for ABT fishing, hotel costs, travel, food etc.

Jersey fishing licences and authorisations are managed through the Sea Fisheries (Licencing of Fishing Boats) (Jersey) Regulations 2003. In this regulation, an amendment is needed to allow recreational fishing authorisations to target ABT on a catch and release basis. This protects the fishery by ensuring those vessels who do not qualify for an authorisation, cannot target ABT. Recreational authorisations are commonplace in fisheries management and Jersey already has the scheme in place for other species. These authorisations ensure the correct number of fishing vessels have access to a fishery with enforceable licence conditions attached to them. Without authorisations, fisheries can be exploited at unsustainable levels and Jersey will be breaching the ICCAT convention. This amendment is not related to commercial fishing.

The UK fishing plan is submitted annually to The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) for approval on February 14th, 2026. Once this is approved at ICCAT level, it will be understood how many permits will be allocated to Jersey for recreational fishing.

Commercial fishing is being looked at for 2026 in Jersey territorial waters. The ABT quota is held at a UK level meaning Jersey vessels will need to apply to the marine management organisation in the UK for a commercial permit. If Jersey vessels are successful, the ABT season runs from July 1st to December 31st. Licence conditions have been drafted to ensure any ABT landed into Jersey are to remain on island to benefit the local economy and marine sector. All sellers will be registered through a mandatory electronic catch documentation scheme which ensures the highest levels of traceability for each individual fish.

Currently harbour facilities are available to deal with a small scale, trial commercial fishery for ABT in Jersey. If Jersey vessels are awarded ABT quota for 2026, a review process will take place in the winter of 2027 to understand the fisheries performance and whether further investment is needed.