History made off Falmouth with UK’s First Bluefin Tuna Catch and Release Tournament

The UK’s first “catch and release” Bluefin Tuna Championship organised by the UK Bluefin Tuna Association and Sportfishing Club of the British Isles has celebrated a unique combination of sport, science and sustainability with 43 fish caught, measured and released back into the world class fishery off the Cornish coast.

A “shotgun” start at the mouth of host-port Falmouth Harbour, in perfect sea and weather conditions, saw 13 boats from across the South West heading to the fishing grounds up to 12 miles offshore where they encountered huge “busts” of feeding Bluefin, with each vessel capturing and releasing at least one tuna.

Shoreside the Tournament marquee brought competitors and visitors together with the scientists and organisations behind the new English Catch and Release Recreational Fishery (CRRF) – all witnessing sights from the day filmed by event videographer Adam Watson of Twin Fin Film.

The Championship Winner – with the total length of his three largest tuna recorded at 209 inches, almost 531 cms – was St Ives skipper Sam Narbett aboard his vessel “Bluefin”, closely followed by another local skipper, Jerry Rogers, on Dream Catcher 2 who took second place with 200 inches/508cms.

Visiting small boat Private Skipper from Torbay, David Mordecai on Gadget, was the winner of the biggest tuna of the tournament with a fish coming in at 83 inches / 211 cms.

The first Championship also attracted the first Ladies Team, captained by Katy Davidson who also helped organise the event, aided by local events and lifestyle brand Huntress and Home and with generous sponsorship from RBS Marine.

Katy says, “It was an absolute privilege to be part of this inaugural event and thanks to a talented and passionate group of people it went beyond our expectations across all aspects – from the camaraderie to the exceptional conditions.

“There was the bonus of new data from our event footage for the Exeter University team. It was the stuff that dreams are made of and we can’t wait to get planning for 2025.”

Among the scientists present was Associate Professor of Ecology at Exeter University Lucy Hawkes who says, “This competition is definitely a way for us to understand much more about the biology of these animals. Being here, seeing these tuna from the sky and underwater gives you a totally different perspective on what these incredible fish are up to.”

The CRRF has been developed over the last six years by the UK Bluefin Tuna Association (UKBFTA), the Angling Trust, DEFRA, the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) and Natural England.

Falmouth Harbour’s Commercial Operations Manager Tristan Rowe says, “Seeing the excitement and enthusiasm brought by the competitors after their day on the water, combined with the passion and knowledge provided by the academics from Exeter University, along with the rigorous adjudication and control by the organisers all reinforced how well and carefully this event has been organised by everyone involved.“We are delighted to support this event which has a great future and will be an important part of the Harbour’s calendar going forward.”

The UK once had a thriving tuna fishery but numbers declined mainly due to overfishing of the tuna themselves and the herring which is their main food source. Many years of protection and conservation at a global level have seen Bluefin tuna back in huge numbers around the British coast for around five months of the year since 2016.

The benefits of the Catch and Release Recreational Fishery reach beyond the charter vessels and data reports, with just 25 boats in 2022 generating a Total Economic Impact of £2.6 million, according to a DEFRA/Cefas study.

The organisers of the championship are already planning for 2025 and intend to grow the annual event to attracting an international angling community to Falmouth.

Steve Murphy of UKBFTA and Chair of the organising committee says, “It’s been an absolutely incredible experience seeing the hard work of all our partners come to life in this event. The Falmouth Harbour team’s support was instrumental in making this Tournament fly and we are grateful for all who came and took part.”