Monster 9ft-long and 621lb bluefin tuna is caught by fishermen in British waters

Published: 13:32 EDT, 30 September 2026 | Updated: 14:12 EDT, 30 September 2026 A monster 9ft-long bluefin tuna, that weighed 621lb and was caught off the coast of Britain, has broken a national record.The tuna was caught by fishermen using rod and line off the south-west coast and brought to Brixham, Devon.The mammoth specimen is about 160lb heavier than the previous record for a bluefin tuna or 'tunny' for Brixham Fish Market, which is the biggest in England.Experts say it is big enough to make around 500 portions of premium tuna.It was sold for an unknown price at auction to Flying Fish Seafoods whose customers include Michelin-starred restaurants around the country.Fine dining eateries can charge between £20-£45 for a plate of premium bluefin tuna, which have been known to grow up to ten feet long and weighing more than 800lb.British seas have been experiencing a surge in bluefin tuna population, with huge numbers returning to the south-west coast over the last ten years where there is now a thriving and sustainable fishery for them.The waters off Devon and Cornwall are currently teeming with the fish which migrate there every summer and leave before the winter. A monster 9ft-long bluefin tuna, that weighed 621lbs and was caught off the coast of Brixham, Devon, has broken a national recordAnd, last month, the first bluefin tuna was landed in Whitby, East Yorkshire, in 60 years after they also returned to the North Sea. Bluefin tuna disappeared from British waters in the 1960s as overfishing pushed the species to the brink of extinction. By 2007, global tuna stocks were close to collapse.The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas went on to launch a 15-year recovery plan for the species in 2007, alongside strict international fishing regulations. Following the surge in the British bluefin tuna population while ensuring they remain highly protected, he Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) issued 30 fishing vessels with special licences to catch and land a small quota of tuna which they can sell to fish markets.Barry Young, managing director of Brixham Trawler Agents, said tuna was becoming an increasingly important part of the UK fishing industry.'Landing a 282kg bluefin tuna is a fantastic achievement for Brixham Fish Market. It's a record-breaking fish of exceptional quality,' he said.'With only 30 licensed vessels authorised to land bluefin commercially in the UK, it's a particularly significant catch.'We've already sold over 17 tonnes of bluefin tuna, with more than 200 fish landed this year, and those figures continue to grow.'It's a fantastic moment for Brixham and its fishing heritage.'Fish of 200-300kg are being encountered, making Brixham's 282kg catch an exceptional example of the size and quality of tuna now being landed here.'It provides a valuable additional opportunity for Brixham's licensed vessels, while also bringing activity through the fish market and the wider supply chain, including merchants, processors and transport.'It's an increasingly important part of the commercial fishery here.'A huge 7ft bluefin tuna was spotted leaping out of the waters of the south-west coast only last week. The Atlantic predator burst from the surface while hunting garfish, sending its prey hurtling into the air.