Could the UK's Bluefin Tuna Become the New Whale Watching?

A predator that vanished from our shores is back. The Atlantic bluefin tuna; a half-tonne leviathan that can cross oceans at 40 mph has returned, a direct result of decades of international conservation effort.

Our response risks squandering this miracle. We've launched a recreational fishery that subjects them to brutal "catch-and-release" practices with a hidden mortality rate, turning a conservation win into a contested commodity.

But there is another path, one proven to generate more revenue, create more jobs, and honour the animal's place in the ecosystem. We have a historic chance to learn from the past and build something revolutionary.

Could the UK's bluefin tuna become the new whale watching?

The Dangerous Myth of "Sustainable" Sportfishing

The industry markets itself as a harmless pursuit. The science reveals a different story.

Physiological Torture

A hooked tuna isn't just playing; it's fighting for its life. Its unique, warm-blooded biology causes it to overheat during a prolonged struggle. Oxygen deprivation leads to lethal lactic acidosis, essentially cooking its muscles from the inside. This internal damage is often fatal, even if the fish swims away.

Flawed and Inadequate Data

The UK government admits it has "no estimates of the number of bluefin tuna in UK waters." Its mortality data relies on an honour system where skippers self-report only deaths that occur beside the boat. A critical Australian study placed the mortality rate at 17% under ideal scientific conditions. UK marine ecologist Dr. Richard Kirby warns that real-world conditions here: longer fight times, multiple hook-ups, and warmer waters likely push this rate significantly higher.

Evidence of Ignored Rules

The voluntary code of conduct is routinely broken, making a mockery of "sustainability."

Multiple Hook-ups

Despite the code stating this practice increases mortality, charter boats boast on social media of double or triple hook-ups.

Extended Fight Times

The code advises keeping fights to a "minimum," yet anglers crow about battles lasting 90 minutes, a known factor in post-release death.

Banned Gear

Videos show the use of two-hooked lures, which the code bans "under any circumstances."

This isn't sustainable management. It's a poorly regulated experiment on a recovering population.

The Multi-Million Pound Whale Watching Revolution

We have a perfect, proven blueprint for a better way. We nearly hunted whales to extinction. Then, a global moratorium forced a change, and communities built something far more valuable.

Places like West Cork, Iceland, and Kaikoura, New Zealand, transformed themselves. They traded harpoons for hydrophones and built a billion-dollar global industry.

The West Cork Model

In Ireland, individual humpback whales are now valuable, named celebrities. It is believed that whale watching pumps over €2.5 million annually into the local West Cork economy alone. This supports operators, hotels, pubs, and shops; a renewable revenue stream from a single, living asset.

The Economics of Awe

A live whale can be watched thousands of times. A dead whale is sold once. Wildlife watching attracts higher-spending tourists who stay longer and value ethics, enhancing a region's entire brand.

The lesson is clear: A living spectacle generates more long-term value and more jobs than a dead trophy.

Building a UK Tuna Watching Industry

The foundation is here. The spectacle is undeniable. The plan is actionable.

1. Establish a Full Legal Sanctuary

The UK must designate the bluefin tuna as a protected species. This bold act provides the certainty for investors and operators to build a long-term industry, positioning the UK as a global conservation leader.

2. Develop a Certified Operator Scheme

A governing body (e.g., MMO, Marine Conservation Society) must create a strict, enforceable code for viewing, not catching. This includes:

• Minimum approach distances to prevent disruption of natural behaviour.
• Limited viewing times per shoal.
• Mandatory guide training on tuna biology and ethics.
• Partnerships with scientists for photo-ID programs to finally gather the population data the government lacks.

Quantify the Opportunity

If Cornwall captured even a fraction of the market West Cork has, it could represent a £1.5-2 million annual boost to the local economy, creating dozens of skilled, year-round jobs in guiding, hospitality, and research.

Addressing the Concerns – A Practical Transition

This isn't about ending traditions; it's about evolving with our scientific understanding. Let's address the valid objections:

Objection: "You're hurting working-class skippers."

Answer: A transition fund, supported by initial ecotourism licensing fees, could provide grants for charter operators to retrofit boats for viewing, adding hydrophones, hiring naturalists, and marketing themselves as eco-tours. This pivots their existing skillset to a more sustainable and lucrative model.

Objection: "Won't watching boats also stress the tuna?"

Answer: Yes, poor practice would. That is precisely why a strict, science-based code of conduct for viewing is the non-negotiable first step. The goal is passive observation, not pursuit. This is a managed solution, unlike the current fishing free-for-all.

Objection: "This is cultural snobbery against fishing."

Answer: This is about economic and ecological foresight. The tradition of whaling was also deeply cultural, but communities that transitioned found greater prosperity. We can choose a better path that respects the animal and the community's economic future.

Conclusion

We have two futures.

One is a predictable story: a miraculous animal returns, we exploit it, and we diminish both the animal and ourselves in the process.

The other is extraordinary: we choose to be the generation that learned from its mistakes. We choose to greet this incredible animal not with a hook, but with wonder. We choose to build a thriving, sustainable industry that fills our coastal communities with prosperity and purpose.

The bluefin has given us a second chance. Now, we must return the favour.