UK's 2026 bluefin tuna quota rises to 230.65 tonnes! Jersey is granted six commercial licences

In August 2026, the United Kingdom granted five additional commercial bluefin tuna trial‑fishing licences to Jersey, following strong discontent within fishing communities over the initial single‑licence allocation.

The Atlantic bluefin tuna (*Thunnus thynnus*) trial‑fishing programme utilises a 26‑tonne quota and is carried out across Jersey, Wales and Scotland.

Jersey’s total number of licences has risen to six, matching its original application figure.

The United Kingdom holds an annual quota of 230.65 tonnes for 2026‑2028.

This paper analyses the issue from three dimensions: the game over licence allocation, the scientific objectives of trial fishing, and the development history of the fishery.

In August 2026, the UK Government issued five extra commercial bluefin tuna trial‑fishing licences to Jersey, bringing the island’s total licence count to six, consistent with its original application.

This decision came only weeks after Jersey’s fishing industry voiced fierce opposition to the initial allocation of just one licence.

Once pushed to the brink of extinction by overfishing, the Atlantic bluefin tuna (*Thunnus thynnus*) has seen a notable population recovery in recent years, opening up new fishery opportunities for Jersey.

This article examines the underlying industry dynamics and policy evolution surrounding this event through three perspectives: “the game over licence allocation”, “the trial‑fishing programme and its scientific objectives”, and “the development history of Jersey’s bluefin tuna fishery”.

1. The Game over Licence Allocation — Only one licence granted initially, five out of six applicants rejected; Jersey’s total licences increased to six after additional grants

In July 2026, the UK Government awarded 30 commercial bluefin tuna licences by draw from 155 applications.

Six Jersey fishermen applied, yet only one — Shetty Chavan — was successful.

Gaby Mason, Vice‑Chair of the Jersey Fishermen’s Association, described the outcome as “extremely frustrating”, noting that the bluefin tuna fishery could have nurtured a new industry for Jersey and helped more vessels weather difficult times.

Jersey officials also expressed dissatisfaction, arguing the existing system was designed for larger UK vessels and not necessarily suited to Jersey’s smaller fleet. Moreover, the 4‑tonne catch limit per licence was deemed excessively high for Jersey’s operations.

Alex Plaster, a Jersey fisheries official, stated that Jersey hoped to manage its own quota in future to better reflect the scale and requirements of the local fleet.

On 8 August, the UK Government announced five further commercial bluefin tuna trial‑fishing licences for Jersey, lifting the island’s total to six, matching its original application number.

Mary Le Hegarat, Jersey’s Minister for Environment, called the decision “a positive step”. She noted it reflected the species’ growing presence in Jersey waters, would improve scientific understanding and support sustainable fishery development.

2. Trial‑Fishing Programme and Scientific Objectives — 26‑tonne quota for commercial activities and scientific research

The five additional licences form part of the UK Government’s combined commercial‑scientific bluefin tuna trial‑fishing programme, which draws on 26 tonnes of the United Kingdom’s 2026 Atlantic bluefin tuna (*Thunnus thynnus*) quota.

These trial fisheries take place in Jersey, Wales and Scotland. They aim to advance scientific knowledge of bluefin tuna behaviour, ecology and distribution to inform sustainable fishery management.

Jersey’s Department for Infrastructure and Environment clarified that these trial fisheries are separate from UK commercial fisheries and English recreational fisheries and will not alter existing quota allocations.

The UK Government intends for the trials to deepen understanding of bluefin tuna movements around the British Isles and Channel Islands, generating scientific evidence for future quota distribution and fishery governance.

At the November 2025 annual meeting of ICCAT (International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas), the United Kingdom secured an increase in its annual Atlantic bluefin tuna quota for 2026‑2028 from 63 tonnes to 230.65 tonnes.

This quota expansion creates greater scope for commercial and recreational bluefin tuna fisheries in the United Kingdom and its Crown Dependencies.

3. Development History of Jersey’s Bluefin Tuna Fishery — Near‑extinction from overfishing, gradual fishery opening following population recovery

The Atlantic bluefin tuna (*Thunnus thynnus*) was once driven close to extinction by overfishing. Decades of stringent international management have delivered substantial population recovery.

In 2024, the eastern Atlantic bluefin tuna was no longer classified as an endangered species.

Sightings of the species in Jersey waters have grown more frequent in recent years, with local fishermen regularly observing large bluefin tuna populations in inshore areas.

Jersey has conducted bluefin tuna tagging research since 2022, sharing data with the United Kingdom to support science‑based management.

In May 2025, Jersey’s Environment Minister formally applied to extend the ICCAT Convention to Jersey waters, laying a legal foundation for fishery development.

From August to October 2025, Jersey carried out a three‑month catch‑and‑release trial fishery.

In March 2026, Jersey approved up to 25 catch‑and‑release bluefin tuna licences priced at £500 each, allowing recreational anglers to participate in catch‑and‑release fishing from licensed vessels.

In July 2026, the United Kingdom permitted Jersey fishermen to apply for commercial quotas for the first time, though only one applicant succeeded.

Following the August additional five licences, Jersey’s total licence number reached six.

Shetty Chavan, the first licence‑holder, made his first successful catch on 25 July and donated proceeds from selling his first fish to the Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

He remarked that bluefin tuna are hard to track, potentially occupying one area one day and swimming many miles away the next. Nonetheless, he will keep monitoring their movements in hope of supplying more tuna to Jersey’s local market.

The UK Government’s August 2026 award of five extra commercial bluefin tuna trial‑fishing licences to Jersey resulted from three interacting factors: the ICCAT quota increase (from 63 tonnes to 230.65 tonnes), local demands from Jersey’s discontented fishing communities, and the need for science‑driven trial fishing using the 26‑tonne research‑commercial quota.

From a causal perspective, the large ICCAT quota expansion created room for more licences; strong pushback from Jersey’s fishing industry and government generated political pressure; and trial‑fishing science provided justification for the extra permits. Looking ahead, Jersey’s bluefin tuna fishery is set to keep expanding, with catch‑and‑release and commercial models developing in parallel, while population recovery remains the fundamental prerequisite for sustainable fisheries. For impact assessment, Chinese importers may view Jersey‑sourced bluefin tuna as a potential supply of high‑end sustainable seafood. Global traders should monitor how the UK quota rise reshapes worldwide supply‑demand dynamics, and Jersey fishery operators ought to seize opportunities while remaining mindful of associated risks.