We've lots to be proud of

The return of the bluefin tuna is a win for sporting conservation, while a GWCT auction reminds us how generosity of money and time is helping vulnerable species.

- Neil and Serena Cross

ONE OF the great success stories concerning nature conservation in the UK over recent years is that of the return of the bluefin tuna. Since I last wrote about these fish there have been some truly exciting developments. In 2024 the big news was that the waters off the south-west coast became designated a catch-and-release fishery for bluefin tuna. Sufficient numbers of these magnificent fish were being tagged and monitored to support the decision to create a sportfishing destination. The culmination of years of careful research saw 13 skippers launched with a shotgun start from Falmouth harbour on 28 September to compete in the inaugural UK Bluefin Tuna Championship. It’s worth pausing at this point to consider that even a decade ago this would have sounded like pure fantasy, and two decades ago lunacy.