How to Secure Your 2025 Bluefin Tuna Recreational UK Fishing Permit
Dreaming of battling a mighty Bluefin Tuna in English waters?
Your chance is here! On April 17, 2025, the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) opened applications for permits to join the 2025 Bluefin Tuna (BFT) Catch and Release Recreational Fishery (CRRF), as announced on their Facebook page. With only approximately 180 permits available for the season (July 18–November 30, 2025), securing one is your ticket to a sustainable, thrilling adventure. Applications close at 23:59 on May 18, 2025, so here’s everything you need to know to apply.
The 2025 CRRF, detailed on GOV.UK, builds on the 2024 season’s success, where 81 vessels caught 3,359 Bluefin with a 0.21% mortality rate, per the GOV.UK news release. The Angling Trust, UK Bluefin Tuna Association (UKBFTA), and Professional Boatman’s Association have shaped the process, advocating for accessibility and sustainability, though not all their recommendations were adopted, as noted in their statement (#). Their Code of Conduct is a must-read for best practices.
Who Can Apply?
To be eligible for a permit, you must meet these criteria:
Vessel Ownership: Own a UK-registered vessel (under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995), at least 5 meters long, powered by an engine/motor. Submit a recent photo showing external registration markings.
No Dual Permits: You cannot hold a 2025 UK commercial BFT permit or another 2025 BFT CRRF permit.
Charter Vessels: If offering charter trips, you need a valid Small Commercial Vessel Certificate (SCV2), with evidence submitted.
Commitment: Permits are non-transferable (except in exceptional cases, e.g., engine failure) and require active use, with mandatory trip reporting.
How to Apply
Applications are submitted via the MMO’s official form, emailed to BFT.recreational@marinemanagement.org.uk by May 18, 2025. Key tips:
Individual Submissions: Group applications are not accepted. Complete the form fully, as the MMO won’t check for completeness until after the deadline.
Take Your Time: Applications aren’t reviewed first-come, first-served. If you miss evidence, submit a new form before the deadline.
Contact: For queries, email BFT.recreational@marinemanagement.org.uk or info@ukbfta.co.uk.
The MMO expects high demand, so permits are prioritized:
Experienced Applicants: Those with 2024 CRRF permits, reported trips, and recognized training (e.g., Cefas CHART or FaSS/UKBFTA programs).
CHART Veterans: Skippers, owners, or crew from the Cefas CHART programme.
New Entrants: At least 10 permits are reserved for newcomers, who are encouraged to undertake training via UKBFTA.
Permit Responsibilities
Securing a permit comes with strict rules:
Catch and Release Only: Use rod and line in English waters. Bluefin must not be harmed, removed from the sea, landed, or transferred.
Mandatory Reporting: Report all trips within 24 hours via the MMO’s Qualtrics platform, including date, ICES rectangle, catch numbers, fish length, fight time, and release status, even if no fish are caught. Non-compliance risks permit revocation or future rejection.
Training Recommended: Attend the MMO’s online reporting tool demo and follow the Code of Conduct, developed by UKBFTA, Angling Trust, and others, to ensure fish welfare, as informed by studies like the CHART programme, highlighted on Bluefin Tuna UK’s Facebook.
Why It Matters
The CRRF supports Bluefin Tuna conservation, with data from permit holders shaping sustainable management, as outlined on GOV.UK. Permits ensure only trained, committed anglers participate, protecting these rebounding giants while boosting coastal economies. Don’t wait—download the application form, review eligibility on GOV.UK, and apply by May 18, 2025. Share your journey on X with #BluefinTunaUK!
