Trevor Bevins, Local Democracy Reporter.
Weymouth Harbour has been approved as an authorised landing port for Atlantic Bluefin Tuna.
Two giant fish, one weighing 89kg and the other 98kg, have already been landed since the season opened in July.
Commercial prices in recent months suggest that a 90kg bluefin could be worth around £1,200 to £1,350, although exceptionally high-quality fish can command substantially more.
The return of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna to the English Channel and wider UK waters is seen as one of the most significant developments in UK fisheries in recent years and is widely regarded as a success story for international fisheries management and stock recovery.
Said Ed Carter, the Dorset Council Harbours Manager and Weymouth Harbour Master: “Weymouth Harbour is pleased to have been approved as an authorised landing port for Atlantic Bluefin Tuna. The fishery is one of the most tightly regulated in UK waters, operating under strict national quotas and licence conditions to ensure long-term sustainability.”
The recognition for Weymouth follows the expansion of the UK’s commercial bluefin tuna fishery, which operates under a regulated licensing and quota system administered by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO). Only authorised vessels may participate, and all catches are subject to strict controls, monitoring and reporting requirements. The fishery is restricted to low-impact rod-and-reel methods and operates within a nationally allocated quota.
The harbour’s approval means that authorised vessels are now able to legally land Atlantic Bluefin Tuna into Weymouth, alongside a number of other designated ports around the UK. It does not allow for unlimited landings, as all fishing activity remains constrained by national quota limits and licence conditions.
The UK has an annual Atlantic Bluefin Tuna quota of 230.56 tons for the period 2026-2028, of which 120 tons have been allocated to support the commercial fishery in 2026. Up to 30 authorised UK vessels are permitted to participate in the fishery, each with an allocation of four tons.
Mr Carter says that a small number of tuna have already been landed through Weymouth since approval was granted, demonstrating the growing importance of this fishery to the local fleet.
He says that whilst still in its early stages, the ability to land tuna through Weymouth provides an additional opportunity for the commercial fishing sector and further strengthens the harbour’s role in supporting a diverse and sustainable maritime economy.
