Guernsey Approves Commercial Bluefin Tuna Licences
Deputies have approved measures letting Guernsey comply with an international Atlantic tuna convention and join England's tuna quota system.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Fishing
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Guernsey's government has approved measures to grant commercial licences for catching and landing Atlantic bluefin tuna. The island is set to be included in England's tuna quota under the ICCAT convention, with participation hoped to be extended through the UK quota.
Why it matters
The UK is an ICCAT member and holds a tuna quota, and Guernsey's inclusion would bring compliance with the convention that governs migratory tuna across the Atlantic and Mediterranean. Officials see the opportunity as a potential boost for an industry described as in poor condition.
Guernsey's licensing move would bring the island under the UK's allocated tuna quota, but the source gives no quota volume or licence count. The final quota share and start date remain to be negotiated with the UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
The players
Monty Vaudin
Monty Vaudin is a Guernsey fishmonger who has worked in the trade for nearly 50 years, giving him long experience of the island's shellfish and fish markets.
Defra
The UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is the government body that would negotiate Guernsey's participation in the UK tuna quota.
The details
Deputies approved measures to ensure Guernsey complies with the International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, with the island's participation to be arranged through UK quota extension and negotiation with Defra. Officials said Guernsey could become a hub for tuna export if the process is handled well.
Timeline
Article on Guernsey's tuna licensing approval published 2 November 2026.
Season Trajectory
Guernsey's licensing decision places the island inside the ICCAT framework that governs Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna, the same convention that sets the UK's allocated quota. The move follows the pattern of Jersey and France, which already hold licences under the convention.
For anglers and fishmongers, the licences open a commercial route to bluefin tuna that was previously unavailable to Guernsey operators. The practical change depends on the size of the allocation and when UK quota extension takes effect.
The takeaway
Fishing businesses considering tuna should watch for the UK quota extension announcement, since allocation size will determine how much catch is available. Monitoring the ICCAT framework will show when licences become operational.
Further reading
Explore more on Fishing to see how commercial tuna quotas shape the trade.
Source note: This article includes information reported by BBC.
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