553-tonne albacore quota: 2026 outlook
UK confirms 553-tonne North Atlantic albacore quota for 2026
Overview and regulatory steps
The UK has been allocated a 553-tonne share of the North Atlantic albacore (ALB/AN05N) for 2026, administered by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO). The expression-of-interest window closed at 23:59 on 1 March 2026 and applications were handled on behalf of UK Fisheries Administrations. The allocation follows ICCAT capacity guidance and allows up to nine licences to target albacore under current rules; vessels without a directed licence may retain bycatch but must record all catches and discards and may face designated landing port conditions.
Implications for charter skippers and blue-water anglers
Charter operators from Newlyn, Plymouth and Milford Haven to western Scotland ports such as Oban and Ullapool should factor limited licence availability into summer and autumn planning. Albacore commonly appear as surface schools; juveniles found by surface fleets are typically 50-90 cm while longline-caught fish run 60-120 cm. Practical gear: 20-40 lb outfits, 20-50 lb braid and trolling lures or metal jigs for surface work. Fish concentrate around temperature breaks; records show aggregations near 17-20°C in spring before moving north toward the Bay of Biscay and shelf waters off southwest Britain. Operators must liaise with the UK Fisheries Monitoring Centre (UKFMC) on VMS, logbooks and landing port designation if unable to offload at the intended port.
Season access and safety
Expect the main season in UK shelf waters from late spring into autumn as migratory bands pass coastal and offshore grounds at depths from the surface down to about 200 m. Skippers should monitor MMO updates, maintain accurate catch returns, and brief anglers on safety and conservation measures. Practical targeting—slow trolling, chunking, and deploying floating weed-line tactics in water around 15-20°C—gives the best chance of connecting with migratory albacore in UK waters.
Recommended: assorted trolling lures