Project Dates: 1.9.25 to 1.3.26

Supporting key research and education around the diet of Atlantic bluefin tuna to secure their remarkable return, enhancing biodiversity in Devon’s waters.

Atlantic bluefin tuna’s spectacular seasonal return has become one of the most remarkable local marine wildlife events. After decades of absence, these ocean giants are now seen chasing prey off Devon’s coasts every summer, and the challenge is to ensure they keep coming back.

We currently have very little idea of what bluefin tuna are feeding on, and if we are to safeguard bluefin tuna’s long term recovery, we need to find out which prey species are “feeding the comeback” and how can we ensure their populations remain strong enough to keep bluefin returning.

This project seeks to:

1) understand what tuna are eating and how much,
2) educate on tuna’s role in our ecosystem,
3) inform on how we best manage populations for the benefit of a healthy ecosystem with bluefin thriving as the apex predator.

Atlantic bluefin tuna have reappeared in UK waters in large numbers, yet no data exists on their diet or impact on prey fish stocks. Since 2014, tuna have become seasonally abundant in waters off the UK. They migrate to the region to forage, and links between the abundance and distribution of their prey have been suggested as a potential driver for their sudden reappearance.

This project will use cutting-edge DNA metabarcoding to analyse tuna stomach contents from individuals captured in the commercial fishery, identifying prey species even from digested material. Findings will fill a critical knowledge gap and have the potential to inform sustainable fisheries policies. This study will provide the first empirical evidence of tuna trophic interactions in the UK.

Collaboration with the Marine Management Organisation and Blue Marine Foundation will ensure wide dissemination of findings among stakeholders.

 

N.B. DEF has initially awarded £2,000 via Crowdfunder to encourage more donations from the public in support of this  project. You can add your support to our Feeding the Atlantic bluefin tuna comeback HERE.

Images credits: Henley Spiers and  The Lone Kayaker