The 2022 Atlantic Bluefin Tuna catch-and-release survey is opening to experienced anglers this month to gather data on the prized fish.
In the past three years of the Tuna CHART (Catch and Release Tagging) programme, more than 1,100 of these giants have been successfully tagged and released.
The Atlantic Bluefin Tuna is native to the eastern Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea and is much sought after by anglers for its large size, able to reach up 4m in length and 600kg in weight.
This programme is meant to support scientific research by providing more information about the abundance and migratory patterns of the bluefin in our coastal waters.
The largest tuna tagged to date in the programme was 2.75m, weighing an estimated 372kg
Chartered skippers are being invited to apply for the 2022 survey, which will run from July 1 to November 12 this year.
In 2022, a maximum of 25 authorisations may be granted to qualifying angling charter vessel skippers around the Irish coast.
Authorised skippers will be required to have high specification rods, reels and line in advance of the open season in order to ensure that the fish is brought alongside the vessel to be measured and tagged in the water.
Experienced charter skippers are being invited to apply to join the 2022 Tuna CHART programme between February 14 – 28 by filling out an application form online at www.fisheriesireland.ie/bluefin.
The CHART programme is run by Inland Fisheries Ireland and the Oranmore based Marine Institute in partnership with government departments.
