'Brexit changes allow Torbay to embrace latest eco tourism ideas and bounce back from Covid'
It’s hoped Torbay could see a multi-million pound tourist boost by embracing bluefin tuna angling.
Last updated 11th Feb 2021
The bay is said to have an abundance of the fish, which wouldn’t be caught but instead tagged for scientific research purposes.
Susie Colley, chair of the Torquay Chamber of Commerce, says the proposed industry could attract a lot of people to the area after proving popular in other countries.
She says those wanting to register to take part in the scheme this Summer only have a few days left to register with Defra, adding: “Torbay, as we know, has suffered hugely – as many parts of the country have – with the outbreak of Covid.
“We are a tourist town and haven’t got any tourists. I’ve been working with these guys since last March and bluefin tuna catch and release – and release is the magic word, because these beautiful fish can tell us so much about the ecology and the environment and it’s opened up huge strains of tourism all over the world.
“From South Carolina to Sweden, Norway, Southern Ireland and if they can do it there, we can do it here.
“The only thing that has held us back was that we didn’t have a quota for bluefin tuna catch and release and commercial fishing.
“When Brexit was completed there was a quota that will allow those that are licensed – and I cannot stress it enough, that these skippers they have to be licensed, they have to take exams, they have to have certification, their boats have to be rigorously tested and their boats have to carry oxygen because in the event that these fish are landed they have to be oxygenated so that they don’t suffer when they put them back when they’re tagged.
“They do not land them for eating but it will give an income to not only the skippers but all the hotels, the restaurants, the petrol stations everywhere in Torbay will benefit because people who can afford to go out with these skippers for a day – because they’re not cheap – it’s a very specialised sport. If they can afford to go out with these skippers each day they will want to stay in the best hotels, they’ll want to go to the best restaurants, they’ll want to go to the best shops.
“They will want a lot of the things that Torbay has got, but we need to improve.”
When asked about the idea, a Defra spokesperson said: “Despite some early signs of improvements to Bluefin tuna stocks, there are still high levels of uncertainty around the extent of the recovery of this iconic species.
“We are committed to ensuring bluefin tuna has sufficient protection in our waters, and we must continue to approach the management of this species with caution.”
In 2018 Defra commissioned a multi-year project looking at bluefin tuna to 'better understand their presence in UK waters'.
Defra commissioned a 12-week project from October to December 2020 to explore the feasibility of a recreational scientific catch, tag and release programme in English waters.
The second phase of that project is now running from January to March 2021, to deliver detailed design work, and explore ‘whether the necessary quota and funding could be secured'.
The spokesperson confirmed 'it will allow government to make a firm decision on whether to support such a programme in summer/autumn 2021’.
The spokesperson added: “During negotiations with the EU the UK secured a small amount of bluefin tuna quota, and consultations regarding how best to use this quota will take place with the devolved administrations and relevant stakeholder groups.”
For more about the idea click here on the Torquay Chamber of Commerce website