The ESG and GONHS have raised concerns about the start of the Bluefin tuna fishing season, saying more checks and review of quotas are needed.

A joint statement from the ESG and GONHS follows below:

The ESG and GONHS reiterate their concerns over the launch of the local season for sport fishing of the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (BFT).

Although the ICCAT (International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas) has raised its quota again this year, the two organisations remain steadfast in their view that the quota is out of all proportion to Gibraltar’s size and territorial waters. For example, the quota is 0.38% of Spain’s, whereas our population is 0.08% and our territorial waters are 0.03% those of Spain’s.

Furthermore, Spain’s recreational quota comprises less than 1% of its entire ICCAT quota whereas all BFT fishing in Gibraltar falls into the recreational category. The distinction between recreational fishing and commercial fishing is also clearly made in the UK.

The UK has introduced new rules to manage their greatly increased quota in 2026 -

https://anglingtrust.net/2026/03/24/mandatory-training-introduced-for-2026-atlantic-bluefin-tuna-catch-and-release-recreational-fishery/

These should be studied and followed to strengthen control and oversight and ensure the highest welfare standards to minimise suffering of these magnificent animals.

In both cases recreational licences forbid the sale of any BFT caught for consumption, with severe penalties in place. The Government should clarify whether this also applies to our local tuna fishing practices and if not, what the justifications are.

The NGOs call for greater scrutiny and oversight of this sport to ensure that we play our part in the conservation of these great animals we are so privileged to witness on their migration in and out of the Mediterranean. In particular, and while retaining their opposition to fishing for tuna for sport, when this is not accompanied by programmes such as tag-and-release to study the fishes’ migration and movements, the groups believe that at worst, Gibraltar should have appropriately smaller quotas, if this sport is to continue in line with other countries.

They fear the world will never learn, and a rollback of overfishing  only come when the BFT numbers deplete once again. The focus should be on sustainable harvesting instead.