Plea to anglers not to land tuna

Following the landing of a critically endangered fish in Dorset waters, Dorset Wildlife Trust has issued an urgent request to all sea anglers.  Bluefin tuna, an endangered species that has been sighted and caught in the Portland Harbour area over the last week, should not be landed, according to Dorset’s largest nature conservation organisation. 

Peter Tinsley, Living Seas Manager at Dorset Wildlife Trust, said: “The occurrence of bluefin tuna in Dorset waters is very exciting for anglers and for conservationists, but we would recommend that NO tuna are landed in Dorset and that anyone who does catch one should release it.  This species is very endangered, having suffered massive decline in the last 40 years due to severe overfishing.”

Peter added: “In the 1930s there was a significant sport-fishery targeting bluefin tuna in the North Sea producing fish weighing over 600lbs, but such giants are a thing of the past.  Bluefin tuna is now listed as critically endangered – at extremely high risk of extinction – it would be irresponsible to intentionally kill one of these fish and it would be sad to see another killed in Dorset.  We would ask anglers to enjoy their day’s sport without killing the fish and to release their catch once they have recorded and photographed it.”

Anybody who catches a bluefin tuna is asked to inform the Southern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (SIFCA) on 01202 721272 or Dorset Wildlife Trust on 01305 264620.  Ian Carrier, spokesperson at SIFCA, said that they would “ask anglers to comply with the conservation measures for bluefin tuna, and to release anything they catch.”

For more information about responsible angling, visit http://www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/responsible-sea-angling.html
For the latest advice from The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna, visit http://www.iccat.es/en/.