Since 2014, bluefin tuna have slowly but surely been returning to the oceans around the United Kingdom, and now, for the first time in 60 years, commercial fishermen were able to catch, keep, and sell hundreds of the popular fish. 

For years, commercial fishing boats and individual fishermen would catch one or two on occasion but they became increasingly hard to find. 

By 2022, the organization had a total of 25 charter vessels which would deploy around the islands of Great Britain to catch, tag, and release bluefin tuna back into the wild. Today, there are more than 1,700 tagged bluefins swimming happily in the sea, and scientists believe there are even more that haven’t been tagged. 

The UK government reports the most likely reasons for the recent increase are  changes in environmental and prey conditions. Though others argue that it was the overfishing that occurred for decades which directly led to the decrease in numbers, so when fishing bluefins became illegal, they were able to repopulate without being disturbed. 

Currently, commercial fishermen are allowed to keep one bluefin tuna per day per boat to sell for consumption. But conservationists worry this rule will be quite hard to enforce. 

Head of fisheries and aquaculture at the Marine Conservation Society, Dr. Kenneth Bodles, explained, “As we witness this resurgence of bluefin tuna in the UK, it’s crucial that we proceed with utmost care, adopting careful management and continued monitoring that honours the fragile balance of our seas and respects this iconic species.”

Many bluefin tuna weigh upwards of 500 or even 600 pounds. And the price per pound can range anywhere from $20 to $50,000. In fact, in 2020, a 608-pound bluefin tuna was sold in Japan for $1.8 million. 

Michelin-star restaurants all around the world will pay the exorbitant price tag for as many pounds of bluefin as they can get their hands on, because they can sell it for even more once it’s been expertly prepared. 

For many who have spent their lives trying to catch the rarest and largest fish in the sea, the bluefin tuna is the ultimate catch.

Gill believes that the opportunity to catch these once-in-a-lifetime fish is a great thing, but others hear that fishermen are heading out to sea specifically looking for bluefin and are worried about the consequences. 

According to the UK Marine Conservation Society, over the past 15 years, commercial fishermen have been fishing an average of 41% more than the recommended amount every year. Consequently, the number of mackerel are significantly decreasing, and they could certainly be extinct in the next few years if practices continue as they are now.

Therefore, it is absolutely crucial that fishermen of all kinds, both commercial and recreational, are extremely cautious and follow the regulations imposed by the UK and other governments. Otherwise, in just a few years, the bluefin tuna could be gone for good.