Bluefin tuna (BFT) catch and release recreational fishery (CRRF) within English waters
The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) will open a bluefin tuna (BFT) catch and release recreational fishery (CRRF) in English waters in 2026. The MMO will run the application process and will issue permits only for vessels fishing in English waters, with around 150 permits available, Applicants wishing to operate outside English waters, for example in Welsh waters will need to apply through the relevant fisheries authority.
The 2026 fishing season will run from mid-July to 30 November. To take part in the 2026 CRRF, you must apply for a permit through the MMO’s application process which will be open from 24 March until 23:59 13 April 2026. All applicants - including those who held a BFT permit in 2025 - must apply if they wish to participate in 2026.
Key changes coming into effect for 2026:
- The application tiering system has been simplified with the introduction of Angling Trust accredited mandatory training.
- Angling Trust, Defra, the MMO, Cefas, Natural England and sector representatives have jointly developed mandatory training, which is accredited by Angling Trust.
Applicants who are successful in the permit application process will receive a conditional offer and must complete this accredited training syllabus (approx. £450pp) before a permit can be issued.
The MMO will only issue a permit once the required training has been successfully completed.
- Successful charter vessel applicants will be eligible for a multi-year permit inside a TAC cycle period (2026 - 2028), under certain provisions. Successful private vessel applicants will continue to be eligible for one-year permits.
The number of available CRRF permits is expected to gradually increase in 2027 and 2028 (within the ICCAT Total Allowable Catch cycle), meaning more opportunities to participate will be available each year.
The 2026 BFT CRRF dates:
The fishery is expected to open from mid-July and will run until Monday 30 November 2026.
You will need to apply for a permit to join this fishery.
Key dates for the English 2026 BFT CRRF are:
- BFT CRRF application period opens – Monday 24 March
- BFT CRRF application period closes – Monday 23:59 13 April
- Notification to applicants – 30 April
- Mandatory training opens from – 1 May
- Mandatory training closes – 30 June
- Final batch of BFT CRRF permits issued to applicants – Friday 10 July
- 2026 BFT CRRF permit season opens – 13 July
- 2026 BFT CRRF permit season closes – 30 November
Applying for BFT CRRF permit - English waters only.
MMO is responsible for issuing permits for the English BFT CRRF. In 2026, permits will be free of charge, however in future years, charges are likely to be introduced.
Permit numbers will be proportionate to the amount of quota available to cover any incidental BFT mortalities. Applicants wishing to operate outside English waters, for example in Welsh waters will need to apply through the relevant fisheries authority.
Those issued with a BFT CRRF permit MUST comply and report their fishing activity in line with the following legislation: The Sea Fisheries - International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2024.
Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for a permit you must meet the following criteria:
- Your vessel must not be less than 5 metre in overall length and must be powered by an engine/motor.
- You must be the owner of a vessel registered in the United Kingdom under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995. Evidence will be required.
- If your vessel is used for charter fishing trips, you must hold a valid Small Commercial Vessel Certificate (SCV). You will be required to submit evidence of the certificate.
- Applicants cannot hold more than one bluefin tuna (BFT) permit for the same vessel in a single season. If you are successful in this permit process, you cannot:
- hold a BFT CRRF permit issued by another UK fisheries administration for the same vessel, or
- hold a permit for the 2026 UK commercial BFT fishery for the same vessel.
- If you are successful with an offer of a MMO BFT CRRF permit, you agree that you will be required to complete both the Angling Trust accredited online and the in person mandatory training before permit is issued. See mandatory training section.
- Only apply if you intend to use the permit. This will be monitored and failure to actively use the permit and/or report all activity to the MMO may result in the MMO revoking the permit and potentially future BFT applications being rejected.
- Submit a complete application with all the required information before the submission deadline. No late or incomplete applications will be accepted. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure the completeness of their application.
It is likely that MMO will receive more applications than the number of CRRF permits available. MMO will prioritise charter vessel demand and private vessel applications will undergo a random ballot selection.
If you are successful in receiving a BFT CRRF permit but your circumstances change prior or during the season where you can no longer utilise your permit, please contact us at the earliest opportunity and we will look to re-use the permit using a reserve list.
The permit will not be transferable to a different owner. It will also not be transferable to a different vessel, unless in exceptional circumstances agreed by the MMO, such as significant boat engine failure.
MMO has the power if needed to vary, suspend, or revoke permits, under the conditions set out in the legislation. Contact BFT.recreational@marinemanagement.org.uk for more information.
Permit conditions terms
All successful participants that receive an offer of a permit MUST complete the Angling Trust accredited mandatory training before their permit is issued. Once received, failure to actively use the permit and/or report all activity to the MMO may result in the MMO revoking the permit and potentially future BFT applications being rejected.
Participants are to follow the training given and adhere to the CRRF Code of Conduct.
Where evidence is found of non-compliance, the MMO will also consider the removal of the permit issued. Further information on MMO’s revocation policy will be published prior to issuing of permits for the 2026 season.
- The BFT CRRF permit allows for the named vessel to be used to ‘catch and release’ BFT by rod and line only, for the defined period.
- ‘Catch and release’ BFT fishing MUST be in English waters only.
- The vessel owner and master/skipper are both liable for ensuring that legislative requirements are followed.
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The regulation sets out how any caught BFT should be treated, in that BFT MUST NOT be: - HARMED, - REMOVED FROM THE SEA, - BROUGHT ABOARD A VESSEL, - TRANSFERRED TO ANY OTHER VESSEL, - LANDED.
- Regardless of whether a BFT was caught or not, the Vessel Owner MUST ensure that all their BFT ‘catch and release’ trips have been reported to the MMO. See Mandatory reporting rules section below.
- Failure to adhere to the code of conduct guidelines, the training provided or the conditions set out within your permit can result in the removal of the permit.
Mandatory reporting rules
The vessel owner and skipper are legally bound by permit conditions set by the MMO.
Legislation mandates that all BFT catch and release fishing trips carried out in English waters must be reported to the MMO within 24 hours upon the vessels return, regardless of whether any BFT were caught or not. If an event causes you difficulty in reporting your activity within 24hours, you must still submit those records. For help please contact: BFT.recreational@marinemanagement.org.uk
As a minimum you must report the following information.
- Date of fishing trip.
- The ICES rectangle of trip activity. (you will be provided instruction on how to identify an ICES rectangle)
- The number of BFT that were caught on the permitted fishing trip.
- The length of each BFT caught.
- The gear used on each BFT caught.
- The fight time, recovery period provided and status of BFT upon release.
- Incidental bycatch events
Details on how permit holders are to report their BFT information will be communicated to successful applicants, set out in the training and included within their permit.
The information generated from mandatory trip reports will be used to produce anonymised in season and end of season official statistics, which is published and found here.
BFT Mandatory Training
Successful applicants will need to complete Angling Trust accredited online and in person Bluefin tuna CRRF training before your permit is issued. As there are costs to both (approx. £450pp), CRRF applications will be screened first and training will begin once conditional permit offer notifications have been issued. No other training will be accepted.
Mandatory Angling Trust Bluefin Tuna CRRF Training consists of an online training syllabus with a test to ensure the materials have been understood. Some of the key modules are:
- Fish Welfare and Best-Practice Handling
- Bycatch Mitigation & Reducing Marine Disturbance
- At-Sea Etiquette & Angler Safety
The cost of this training is approximately £100.
Once passed the applicant will receive a certificate, where they can then progress towards the in-person training. These one-day events will be run by Angling Trust accredited trainers. Applicants will be expected to travel to these events, although the intention is to hold events around most coastal regions, subject to specific regional demand. The cost associated to this segment of training is approximately £350.
MMO will email the list of accredited trainers and their event locations to successful applicants following confirmation of a successful application. You will be able to choose between these options to suit your preference. Please note these are group training events are scheduled and managed by Angling Trust accredited trainers. These events will take place from May to July – specific dates for each trainer and location to be announced.
Once you have successfully conducted both sets of Angling Trust Bluefin Tuna CRRF training you will receive certificates that enable MMO to issue your permit. You cannot fish until you have received your permit and the fishery has commenced.
BFT Code of Conduct
Throughout the season, all participants are required to adopt the code of conduct, which sets out best practice and expectations relating the catching and release of BFT. The training will provide all permits holders with the skills and knowledge to comply with the code of conduct.
The Code of Conduct and associated training materials have been produced collaboratively by the Angling Trust, Centre of Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science and Natural England, with support from Defra and MMO.
A link to the 2026 Code of Conduct will be available here from April.
Further details on registration under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995.
To demonstrate that your vessel has been registered in the United Kingdom under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 you must provide a certificate showing that your vessel has been registered on either part 1, 2 or 3 of the UK ships register (UKSR): https://www.ukshipregister.co.uk/.
The appropriate part of the register depends on the class of the vessel.
- Part 1 or Part 3 registration will be accepted for non-commercial fishing vessels. You will need to check with the UKSR to determine which is suitable for your vessel.
- Part 2 of the register is reserved for commercial fishing vessels (those issued with an MMO licence to sell fish for profit). If you are applying as an owner of commercial fishing vessel you can submit a copy of your existing part 2 registration certificate.
Depending on vessel type you may be required to provide supporting documents and pay the appropriate fee to register your vessel with UKSR. Please allow sufficient time in order for the UKSR registration to be complete.
Applications for UKSR registration and advice can be found here at https://www.ukshipregister.co.uk/registration/.
How we will handle your application information
Your personal information will be handled in accordance with the MMO personal information charter and privacy notice. Personal information charter - Marine Management Organisation
MMO reserves the share your details within your application with Angling Trust and their accredited trainers to facilitate training participation prior to permit issuance.
Personal information will only be shared with third parties for social research purposes with the consent of the applicant. Defra social science teams will only contact applicants that provide consent. This will not affect your chances of obtaining a permit.