Draft Sea Fisheries (Atlantic Bluefin Tuna) (Jersey) Regulations 202- (P.21/2026): comments

STATES OF JERSEY

DRAFT SEA FISHERIES (ATLANTIC BLUEFIN TUNA) (JERSEY)
REGULATIONS 202- (P.21/2026): COMMENTS

Presented to the States on 20th March 2026

by the Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel

STATES GREFFE

2026  P.21 Com.

COMMENTS

Background and context

This Proposition will introduce a licensing scheme and methodology for recreational catch and release' fishing of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna ("ABT") in Jersey's waters. This will be brought forward by removing ABT from the list of species protected by the Wildlife (Jersey) Law 2021, and introducing a mechanism for issuing recreational ABT fishing permits.

The Panel understands that the Proposition has been brought forward following more than  four  years  "accumulating  the  data"1  to  demonstrate  compliance  with  the International  Convention  for  the  Conservation  of  Atlantic  Tunas  ("ICCAT"),  a prerequisite for participation in the Convention.2  

This work enabled the UK to formally extend the Convention to Jersey in May 2025, establishing a legal basis for authorising ABT fishing in Jersey waters. In parallel, the Minister for the Environment brought forward a Ministerial Decision confirming this intention, following which the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs "authorised charter fishing to take place in Jersey territorial waters in 2025".

At a public hearing on 2nd July 2025 the Minister for the Environment announced plans to undertake a pilot scheme of charter trips for catch and release' fishing during the 2025 season and to obtain ABT quotas for "catch and land" in 2026.3

Quotas and recreational fishing

During its scrutiny of the proposals, the Panel examined progress towards securing quotas for ABT in Jersey's waters and noted that discussions with the UK remained ongoing throughout 2025 and early 2026, with the Minister confirming that Jersey was still awaiting clarity on its share of the UK's 230-tonne ICCAT allocation and that confirmation of any quota had not yet been received.4

The Panel was advised that quota rights are held by the UK and apportioned across the devolved administrations of the UK and the Crown Dependencies, meaning any Jersey access  to  ABT  would  be  delivered  through  UK  issued  permits  accompanied  by a -quota.5

In parallel, Government officers highlighted that participation in recreational ABT fishing  would  require  significant  investment  for  Jersey  vessels,  alongside  strict regulatory requirements regarding training and approved rod and -line- methods.6 The Minister also indicated an expectation to issue only a small number of recreational permits, all of which would operate under tight controls to ensure a safe and sustainable

1 Transcript – Quarterly Public Hearing – Minister for the Environment – 2nd July 2025

2 ICCAT: An inter-governmental fishery organisation with responsibility for conservation of tunas and tuna-like species in the Atlantic Ocean and its adjacent seas.

3 Transcript – Quarterly Public Hearing – Minister for the Environment – 2nd July 2025

4 Transcript – Quarterly Public Hearing – Minister for the Environment – 8th October 2025 5 Private Briefing: Draft Sea Fisheries (Atlantic Bluefin Tuna) (Jersey) Regulations 202- 5th February 2026

6 Ibid

Page - 2

P.21/2026 Com.

catch  of ABT.[7]  However, the  Panel  emphasises  the  need for robust training and monitoring to minimise the post-release mortality of catch and release ABT. [8]

In the absence of a Jersey-specific quota, the Panel recognises that it is not yet fully understood to what extent Jersey's fishing industry will ultimately benefit from the development of an ABT fishery, nor how far future opportunities will be constrained by the UK's decision-making on the allocation and use of its ICCAT quota.

Commercial fishing

The Panel notes that, while the Proposition applies solely to recreational rod and line catch and release ABT fishing, the Government has expressed a broader intention to develop proposals for commercial catch and kill' ABT fishing in future.

During briefings and hearings, the Panel was advised that any commercial regime remains  at  an  early  stage  of  development,  with Jersey  fishers  expected  to apply individually to the UK for commercial permits9 and to meet stringent ICCAT aligned requirements, including mandatory training and significant monitoring on -landing.10

The Panel learned that funding has been identified for a project to address how Jersey "might diversify" the fishing industry through ABT, and that this aligns with the Marine Spatial Plan. The Government also confirmed that further work is needed to establish compliant systems for landing and processing ABT under the Food (Jersey) Law 2023.11

While supportive of efforts to diversify the fishing industry, the Panel emphasises that commercial ABT fishing will require robust oversight and that any future proposals must ensure high standards of sustainability and obtain the maximum economic benefits of landed fish.

Conclusion

The Panel is supportive of the introduction of a licensing scheme and permits for the recreational catch and release fishing of ABT in Jersey. Whilst the extent to which the Jersey fishing industry will benefit from ABT fishing is not yet fully understood, the Panel recognises that the introduction of recreational ABT fishing, with specified conditions, opens opportunities to benefit the local fishing industry in Jersey.

The Panel welcomes the Minister's commitment to comply with the ICCAT rules and wishes to emphasise the importance and need for significant monitoring and oversight of any licensing scheme, both recreational and commercial, that permits ABT fishing in Jersey's waters.

[7] Transcript – Quarterly Public Hearing – Minister for the Environment – 3rd March 2026

[8] Hansard – 24th June 2025 – OQ.152/2025

9 9 Private Briefing: Draft Sea Fisheries (Atlantic Bluefin Tuna) (Jersey) Regulations 202- 5th February 2026

10 Transcript – Quarterly Public Hearing – Minister for the Environment – 8th October 2025 11 Transcript – Quarterly Public Hearing – Minister for the Environment – 3rd March 2026

Page - 3

P.21/2026 Com.