Applications have opened for experienced charter skippers to catch and release Atlantic bluefin tuna as part of a collaborative scientific survey.

While in 2025 the majority of Atlantic bluefin tuna were caught in Donegal Bay, some fish were also tagged and released along Ireland’s south and west coasts.

The initiative targets Atlantic bluefin tuna, the world’s largest tuna species, to collect information on their sizes, and when and where they occur in Irish waters.

Inland Fisheries Ireland senior Research officer Dr William Roche said that the important tagging programme, which is done on-site by authorised tuna angling skippers, can monitor the large bluefin tuna that consistently visit Irish waters between summer and autumn.

‘Sizes of tuna have varied over the years, and their arrival time has been variable too. While storms prevented some angling trips in 2025, high numbers of bluefin tuna were tagged and released on trips that did take place, particularly in September and October.’

The data from this programme is incorporated into international stock assessment models for Atlantic bluefin tuna, a formerly endangered species.

In 2025, the programme recorded a total of 288 bluefin tagged, with four bluefin caught per trip in the most successful week.

90% of all bluefin tuna tagged were tagged off the Donegal Coast, which continues to be the hotspot.

Atlantic bluefin tuna are highly migratory and travel long distances in search of food and spawning grounds.

The tuna frequent Irish coastal waters to feed during its migration through North Atlantic waters.

It averages two metres in length in Irish seas, but can surpass lengths of four metres, weigh more than 600kg, and live up to 32 years.

Recreational angling for Atlantic bluefin tuna is technically prohibited in Ireland, and any unauthorised person found to be targeting bluefin tuna is liable to prosecution. 

However, under the Tuna CHART (CatcH And Release Tagging) programme which began in 2019, authorised charter vessel skippers can catch, tag, and release bluefin during the open season. Skippers are required to have high specification rods, reels and lines.

A total of 2,462 of the largest tuna in the world have been successfully tagged and released in Irish coastal waters since 2019.

In 2026, a maximum of 25 authorisations may be granted to qualifying angling charter vessel skippers around the Irish coast.

The Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery will open on July 1st and close on November 12th.

Experienced charter skippers can apply to join the 2026 Tuna CHART programme between February 17th and March 3rd by completing an online application via the Inland Fisheries website.