Northern Irish tuna project NI-CHART has tagged its first Atlantic bluefin tuna. Estimated at almost 2 metres long, the fish was caught and tagged between Ballycastle and Rathlin Island.
The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) and DAERA launched the NI CHART (CatcH And Release Tuna) programme in September, looking at feasibility of a recreational, tag and release bluefin tuna fishery in Northern Ireland waters.
Locals have been reporting bluefin tuna sightings off the north and east coast of Northern Ireland over the last few years in the late summer, through autumn and winter, but little is known about their distribution.
There are five skippers licenced in the current pilot programme, targeting bluefin from sea angling boats and collecting data both independently and by hosting scientific observers onboard, to learn more about bluefin tuna off Northern Ireland.
Tagging is carried out using a traditional floy tag, a long, narrow, brightly coloured external tag with a unique reference number, inserted just below the second dorsal fin. This is easily noticed and identified if recaught.
Skipper of the Torra, Davy Frayne said the fish was “in great condition and it was great to get the first fish tagged and released successfully”.
