UK confirms 553-tonne albacore quota for 2026
UK confirms 553-tonne albacore quota for 2026
The UK government has confirmed a 553-tonne quota for North Atlantic albacore (stock ALB/AN05N) for the 2026 season. Nine UK licences have been issued to vessels, a decision intended to provide continuity to a compact but high-value albacore fishery operating from Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly through the English Channel and Dorset coast.
Summer tuna charters: opportunity and tactics
Charter operators from Plymouth, Portland and the Isle of Wight can plan summer trips (June–September) when sea surface temperatures typically reach 16-22°C. Albacore commonly patrol shelf edges and seamounts at 50–400 m depths; thermocline breaks at 40–80 m are productive. Practical methods include slow trolling with plugs and skirted lures, kite presentations using live blue mackerel or pilchard strips, and vertical jigging over gullies.
Licence holders and sport anglers: practical tips
Licence holders should maintain catch records and favour selective gear. Sport anglers booking charters do not need a quota licence but should arrive with suitable tackle: 50–80 lb class outfits, 80–130 lb braid and stout leaders. Use of circle hooks and a good stand-up rod or fighting chair improves control and supports catch-and-release survival. With the quota set, operators can advertise trips while upholding handling and reporting best practice.
Economic and conservation note
The allocation underpins local port activity and charter income while monitoring continues; skippers and anglers are encouraged to follow reporting guidelines and support observer programmes to secure long-term access to the fishery.
Recommended: stainless circle hooks