UK North Atlantic albacore fishery 2026 – Expression of interest guidance
For 2026, the UK has a quota allocation of 553 tonnes for the North Atlantic albacore (Thunnus alalunga) stock (ALB/AN05N), which may be taken in UK or EU waters. The 553 tonnes includes an amount set aside for bycatch by the UK fleet. In 2025 there was a 280 tonnes limit on UK catches in EU waters, which has now been increased.
To be eligible to apply to fish for North Atlantic albacore you must:
- Have a domestic commercial fishing licence and be registered in either England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, or the Bailiwick of Jersey.
- If planning to fish in EU and/or international waters, hold an external waters licence for access to EU waters and/or the NEAFC Regulatory Area.
- Use rod and reel, trolling, trawl or longline gears.
- Agree not to undertake bait chumming – bait chumming is not permitted.
- Carry a fisheries observer if required according to the gear type you plan to use.
- Understand that this expression of interest is not for access to the Eastern Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) fishery.
How and when to apply
The North Atlantic albacore expression of interest is being administered by the Marine Management Organisation on behalf of the UK Fisheries Administrations.
The application period will open from 2 February and close at 23:59 on 1 March 2026.
The application form can be found here:
Expression of interest application form
If you are unable to complete the online form, a Microsoft Word version of the form can be provided via email. Please contact FMC@marinemanagement.org.uk to request a Word version of the form.
Guidance on completing the form
Before applying, please ensure you have read the information provided under “Considerations before applying” below.
When completing the application form, you should:
- answer all required questions; incomplete application forms will not be considered and will cause your application to be unsuccessful.
- contact the Fisheries Management Team at FMC@marinemanagement.org.uk if you experience any problems completing this application.
Applications must be completed on an individual basis per vessel; unless two vessels plan to operate as a pair trawl team, in which case a single application for both vessels is appropriate. Applications to fish via the pair trawl method should include the details of both vessels in a single application.
Applicants will be required to complete vessel and owner details as well as provide information on their proposed fishing activity and the benefits it will bring to the UK. Applicants must provide answers to all questions on the application form, unless marked as optional.
The UK can issue nine licences for UK vessels to target North Atlantic albacore in 2026. This is in line with the fishing capacity limitation in ICCAT Recommendation 21-04.
Applications will be assessed on a fair and objective basis to determine the amount of quota to be allocated.
Consideration will be given to:
- The environmental, social and economic impacts of your proposed fishing activity, for example, diversification away from pressure stocks, job creation or downmarket benefits.
- The applicant’s prior experience of, and/or research into, the North Atlantic albacore fishery.
- The catching capacity of the vessel in your application, to ensure allocations maximise the usage of this UK fishing opportunity.
Consideration will also be given to an applicant’s history of compliance with regulatory requirements relating to fishing. If a master or owner of a vessel included in your application has been found guilty of any fisheries offences in the last three years, the UK Fisheries Administrations reserve the right to remove your application from consideration.
How to submit the form
Upon completion of the online form, it will be automatically submitted to the MMO for consideration. If you are not able to complete the online application form, you can either:
- Email a Microsoft Word copy of your form to FMC@marinemanagement.org.uk; or
- post a printed out copy of your form to:
Fisheries Management Team – North Atlantic albacore EOI
Marine Management Organisation
Tyneside House
Skinnerburn Road
Newcastle Business Park
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE4 7AR
If you are planning on posting your application, please let us know to expect it by emailing FMC@marinemanagement.org.uk or by calling us on 0300 123 1032.
Applications are open from 2 February and close at 23:59 on 1 March. Applications received outside of this period will not be considered.
Next steps
Applications will be reviewed by the UK Fisheries Administrations.
The UK Fisheries Administrations reserve the right to determine who receives a licence authorisation and will aim to notify all applicants whether they are successful or not from 26 March 2026. The quota is managed by the UK FAs who reserve the right to re-distribute quota if required during the year.
Licence authorisations will be non-transferable and valid for the 2026 fishing season only. Licence authorisations will not provide successful applicants with a track record for future quota considerations and provide no guarantee of access to North Atlantic albacore quota in future.
The UK Fisheries Administrations reserve the right to request an end of year fishing report from successful applicants, to assess the success of the fishery.
Considerations before applying
Permitted gears
Permitted gear types are forms of rod and reel, trolling, trawl or pelagic longline.
Driftnets and forms of gillnet are prohibited for North Atlantic albacore and other named ICCAT species by Article 9 of the Technical Conservation Measures Regulation.
Bait chumming is not permitted.
Observers
UK vessels targeting North Atlantic albacore with certain gear types will be required to carry a fisheries observer in line with ICCAT Recommendation 16-14.
A minimum of 5% observer coverage of fishing effort will be required in trawl fisheries, measured in fishing hauls or days, and pelagic longline fisheries, measured in fishing days, number of sets, or trips.
Further details of observer coverage requirements will be contained within your licence conditions should your application be successful. Further information is available: Fishing vessels: observer requirements - GOV.UK.
Bycatches
Your domestic licence schedule, in the permitted bycatches section, states that two swordfish may be retained on board as a permitted bycatch. You must also refer to the bycatches of Eastern Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) section.
Consideration of UK landing ports and recording of catches
UK vessels landing North Atlantic albacore into the UK may be required to land in to a UK designated port depending upon vessel size and quantity of North Atlantic albacore to be landed. Vessel operators can refer to domestic licence conditions for more information. If you are obligated to use one and are unable to reach a designated port, seek advice from the UK Fisheries Monitoring Centre (UKFMC).
UK vessels must record all catches and discards as they normally would for any quota or non-quota species, for further information please contact your UK Fisheries Administration.
Fishing in EU waters and/or international waters
In order to take part in the North Atlantic albacore fishery in EU and/or international waters, applicants should take into consideration that there may be additional requirements relating to fishing at increased distances from shore, including carriage of appropriate radio and medical equipment and ensuring crew are appropriately trained to operate in accordance with the requirements of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
Applicants planning to fish in EU and/or international waters, must hold, or be willing to apply for, and be issued, an external waters licence for access to EU waters and/or the NEAFC Regulatory Area. There are specific requirements relating to landing UK caught fish directly into the EU: Exporting or moving fish from the UK - GOV.UK, including for landing any bycatches swordfish into the EU in line with ICCAT Recommendation 01-22.
Applicants planning to fish in EU waters of ICES subarea 8, using mid-water pelagic trawls, on a vessel with an overall length of 12 m or more, must actively use acoustic deterrent devices in line with Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/3089 amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1241.
Applicants wishing to target North Atlantic albacore in EU and/or international waters must satisfy themselves that they meet all regulatory requirements to do so. Contact your UK Fisheries Administration if you have any queries.
This information is not required to be submitted in order for an application to be successful, however this information is provided to inform applicants of potential requirements they may have to fulfil prior to being able to begin fishing in EU and/or international waters should their application be successful.
How your data will be handled
The personal data you provide in your application will be collected and processed for the purpose of assessing and determining the outcome of your application for a licence. Personal data will be handled in accordance with the United Kingdom Single Issuing Authority (UKSIA) privacy notice, which can be viewed by clicking the following link:
Personal information charter - Marine Management Organisation - GOV.UK
Annex
General guidance – Characteristics of North Atlantic albacore (Thunnus alalunga)
Albacore is one of the smaller tuna species, with an estimated 130 centimetres (cm) as its likely maximum length in the Atlantic.
External: Long pectoral fins (up to 30% of fork length or longer in fishes longer than 50 cm).
Colour: Metallic dark blue on the dorsal side and silvery white on the ventral side; a faint lateral iridescent blue band runs along sides in live fish. First dorsal fin deep yellow, second dorsal and anal fins light yellow, anal finlets dark. Posterior margin of caudal fin white (see Figure 1).
Figure 1. Drawing of an adult albacore by Les Gallagher (Les Gallagher, University of the Azores).
Distribution
Geographical limits are from 45-50ºN to 30-40ºS.
In May, albacore start to concentrate in surface waters near the Azores at 38ºN latitude and begin to move north in waters of 17-20ºC of temperature. Within a period of 1-2 months the population is located south-west of Ireland and in the Bay of Biscay.
Fisheries
The North Atlantic albacore stock is traditionally exploited by surface (pair pelagic/mid-water trawlers) and longline fisheries. Surface fisheries mainly target juveniles and sub-adults (50 cm to 90 cm) that migrate swimming in surface waters. Longliners catch adults and subadults (60 to 120 cm) moving in deeper waters. As for the geographical distribution of the fisheries, longliners concentrate their activity in the central Atlantic area whereas surface fisheries, nowadays taking most of the catches, mainly operate in the northeast Atlantic.
Reference
ICCAT. 2006-2016. ICCAT Manual. International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna. In: ICCAT Publications [on-line]. Updated 2016.
ISBN (Electronic Edition): 978-92-990055-0-7 ICCAT·CICTA·CICAA