More Tuna

[Gav 1,708]

Been a few caught here over the years, by accident of course as its illegal to intentionally catch them, this is one of many of the local rag topics that appear regular :-

http://www.hebrides-news.com/tuna-breaks-into-salmon-farm-221020.html

There's an ongoing tagging operation going on out of Harris. They landed a 450lbs one a few years ago, unfortunately it died and was eaten

[Arry 22,201]

1 hour ago, DIDO.1 said:

Commercial EU boats with quota can target and kill tuna in UK waters! No British boats have any tuna quota. 

Charter boats can't target tuna to catch and release. Irish boats can. 

If some people are targeting them and releasing then so what? The fact they aren't allowed to is crazy. Protect all tuna in UK waters but allow a catch and release industry to target them. Especially when at the minute EU boats are killing the same fish....thats mental 

Just shows you how badly the EU have treated us and our fishing fleet. I didn't know that so thanks.

Cheers Arry

[DIDO.1 22,844]

It's a sad situation really, yes they are 'endangered' but they can be managed both as a food source and as a profitable catch and release fishery. Indeed a whole new sport fishing industry could be built around them creating massive amounts of jobs and financial security for charter boat owners, staff, hotels etc. 

Unfortunately once 'conservation' groups start campaigning to protect them from commercial fishing and sport then we will never move forward and real efforts at managing it sensibly will never be made and neither humans or the fish will reap the benifit 

[Tyla 3,179]

How viable is catch and release on that kind of animal? I've caught the odd one overseas and by the time they are brought in its more a mercy killing than anything, they are done for. I struggle to see how they would recover from that. I might be wrong, im no expert

[DIDO.1 22,844]

1 hour ago, Tyla said:

How viable is catch and release on that kind of animal? I've caught the odd one overseas and by the time they are brought in its more a mercy killing than anything, they are done for. I struggle to see how they would recover from that. I might be wrong, im no expert

I can't give you facts....but I know charter boat fishermen who tag everything they catch in Irish waters and they are campaigning for a catch and release fishery here. Their lives revolve around providing such data. 

Admittedly I don't have it

I'll ask the question

[Liamboy 1,266]

There is I think 10 boats on the west coast of ireland who are licensed for catch and release of tuna. Some sort of program. I no a few people who have been out with them recently 

https://fishinginireland.info/2020/tourist/cork-coastline-busting-with-bluefin/