Jack Gardner reports the historic landing of an Atlantic bluefin tuna on the Yorkshire coast for the first time in 60 years.
Jack Gardner, a crew member on The Dominator, helped land a 338kg Atlantic bluefin tuna off the coast of Whitby. This marks the first time the species has been caught in the North Sea since the 1960s. The rare catch occurred after the crew traveled to a specific area where the migratory fish were known to be located. Gardner described the catch as a powerful and difficult fight, noting that the fish was sold before the boat even returned to harbor. Researchers from the University of Exeter, led by Dr. Lucy Hawkes, attribute the return of the species to careful fisheries management and healthy ecosystems. The fish were noted to be considerably larger than previous specimens and may be genetically distinct. The presence of these top predators signals a healthy marine environment. Dr. Hawkes noted that tagging is essential for tracking the fish to determine their origin and future movements.