Devon Environment Foundation has provided £2,000 of match funding
Atlantic bluefin tuna: Feeding the Comeback
Penryn, Cornwall, United Kingdom
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Aim: Atlantic bluefin tuna are back in UK waters - help us uncover what’s bringing them here and secure a future for them in our waters.
This Crowdfunder supports key research and education on the diet of Atlantic bluefin tuna, helping to secure their remarkable return to UK waters, enhancing local biodiversity and making space for nature in our waters.
***Devon Envionment Foundation will match-fund the first £2,000 (so, 2,000 actually = £4,000!)***
***When we hit £2,500 total, Cornwall Council will DOUBLE this to £5,000, and match a further £2,500 of pledges to meet our goal of £10,000***
After decades of absence, these ocean giants are now seen chasing prey off our coasts in Devon and Cornwall each summer.
Our challenge now is to ensure this good news story lives.
Trouble is, we have very little idea what bluefin are feeding on off the UK - a critical puzzle piece in being able to underpin their bluefin tuna recovery for a long term sustainable, effective management with conservation of prey populations.
This is precisely what this project seeks to find out – what are the species “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.
With your support, we can help secure a future where bluefin tuna continue to thrive in UK waters.
Your donations will fund:
- A project officer to collect and process samples from throughout Devon and Cornwall (£3,000)
- DNA sequencing and data analysis (~£100 per fish)
- Design and production of infographics, public events (~£2,000)
The first challenge is to begin to understand what tuna are eating when here, with a second challenge being how much?
In the first instance for £10,000, we’ll work with licensed bluefin tuna fishermen to collect stomach samples from tuna landed in ports across Devon and Cornwall. Back in the lab, we’ll accurately identify the food in the stomachs.
We’re not just doing lab work. What we learn will engage local communities and inform fisheries management for the species that support our seasonal bluefin population. To do this we will work closely with the Blue Marine Foundation and the Marine Management Organisation to make space for bluefin in our marine management.
This is a collaborative effort between scientists, fishers, fisheries managers environmental NGOs and even local councils.
Project Lead, Tom Horton, is a marine ecologist and has been working on fish and fisheries in Cornwall for the past decade. He has worked with scientists and fishers around the Atlantic to study bluefin and is invested in science and communication that underpins the recovery of bluefin tuna in UK waters and secures a long-term future for them.
Emily Theobald is the Principal Marine Officer - Southwest at the Marine Management Organisation. Emily manages the day-to-day operations of the bluefin tuna commercial fishery and will be responsible for fisher liaison and access to samples in the Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery.
Jonny Hughes is the Senior UK Marine Policy Manager at the Blue Marine Foundation and leads Blue Marine’s work on improving fisheries management and marine policy.
DEVON ENVIRONMENT FOUNDATION
This project is supported by the Devon Environment Foundation as part of it's mission to restore nature across Devon: with the vision of at least 30% of Devon ‘for nature’ by 2030.
Rewards terms and conditions and additional info
Project t-shirts
T-shirts will be white earth positive jersey t-shirts from Continental Clothing, screen printed locally in Blackwater, Cornwall by Blackwater Studios. Design below.
Limited-edition tuna print on canvas options
"Tuna tickler" and "Tuna fisher" reward T&Cs
Going to sea is weather dependent and done so at the discretion of your specific skipper (TBC at earliest convenience at the end of the campaign). Specific trip dates will be booked depending on your own and vessel availability. If your trip is cancelled due to any unforeseen circumstance, you will be rebooked at the earliest convenience. Vessel(s) will hold requisite Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) coding and will be licensed for taking guests to sea. Upon confirmation of your trip your contract will be with the skipper or business managing the vessel, who will also be responsible for your at-sea safety. It will be your responsibilty to check vessel/business specific T&Cs prior to your trip as these will apply to you after your date and skipper are confirmed.
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 8th August 2025 at 9:27am