Falmouth to host first UK Bluefin Tuna Championship

The inaugural UK Bluefin Tuna Championship will be held in Falmouth this weekend (September 28 & 29).

The event is the first ever catch-and-release bluefin tuna tournament in the UK.

It builds on the success of the new English Catch and Release Recreational Fishery (CRRF), set up in Falmouth as a world-class sustainable fishery as bluefin tuna return to UK waters.

Working in partnership with skippers and anglers who now form the CRRF, the University of Exeter and Cefas have attached high-tech tags to tuna to track their movements and aid conservation.

The event, at Falmouth Harbour, will include a University of Exeter stand showcasing this research.

“The championship is the culmination of six years of lobbying, co-design, fishing and data gathering,” said Dave West, from the Sports Fishing Club of the British Isles.

“The UK once had a thriving tuna fishery – but numbers declined, most likely due to overfishing of herring, which is their main food source.

“But now tuna are back in huge numbers for five months of the year, creating a fishery unlike any other in the world.”

The CRRF has been developed in a partnership involving the UK Bluefin Tuna Association (UKBFTA), the Angling Trust, DEFRA, the MMO and Natural England.

The UKBFTA, Angling Trust and highly experienced fishermen have helped to develop strict rules and regulations to ensure welfare of the fish.

Dr Lucy Hawkes, from the University of Exeter, said: “Our research on these amazing fish over the last six years has revealed their fascinating behaviours and migrations – travelling far and wide from the Atlantic into the Mediterranean, and returning to UK waters every year.

“We are delighted that this event will allow us to share many stories from following the movements of more than 150 fish, providing data that not just increase our appreciation for these amazing animals, but to help inform policy and management.”

Falmouth Harbour’s Commercial Operations Manager Tristan Rowe said: “This championship is a unique combination of sport, science and sustainability and it’s exactly the sort of event we are focused on supporting and enabling here in our beautiful harbour waters.

“We’re delighted to be providing use of our full range of services ashore and afloat to facilitate this event in the heart of Falmouth.

“We are also blown away by the knowledge and expertise in understanding and monitoring these fish, so we are very excited to host the team from the University of Exeter during the event, as what they have to say and show will be fascinating for visitors and the local community alike.”

The benefits of the fishery reach beyond the charter vessels and data reports, with just 25 boats in 2022 generating a Total Economic Impact of £2.6 million, according to a DEFRA/Cefas study.

The organisers of the championship hope the planned annual event will grow and one day attract an international angling community to Falmouth.

There are 19 vessels registered for the inaugural championship, with both private and charter vessels taking part.

Steve Murphy, from the UKBFTA, said: “We understand the importance of this fishery to the recreational sea anglers and the value this brings to the wider community of Falmouth and the UK.

“We are honoured to be working with such exceptional partners on this event and look forward to showcasing just what this fishery can look like now and in the future.”