Atlantic bluefin tuna: Feeding the Comeback

Aim

Act now to help us reach £30k and uncover why Atlantic bluefin tuna are returning to UK waters, to help secure their future.

Support key research and education on the diet of Atlantic bluefin tuna and help to secure their remarkable return to UK waters; enhancing local biodiversity and making space for nature in our waters!

Right now, Atlantic bluefin tuna are arriving off the UK coast for their annual summer visit - a spectacular seasonal return that has become one of the country’s most remarkable marine wildlife events.

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 (£8,000)
• Sample processing, DNA sequencing and data analysis (~£200 per fish)
• Design and production of infographics, public events (~£5,000)

The first challenge is to begin to understand what tuna are eating when here, with a second challenge being how much? 

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

Devon Environment Foundation is fundraising on behalf of their grantee Tom Horton, marine ecologist at the University of Exeter, who will deliver the project – all funds raised will be granted to this project.

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

Henley Spiers

Tom Horton

"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 responsibility to check vessel/business specific T&Cs prior to your trip as these will apply to you after your date and skipper are confirmed.

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This project successfully funded on 24th October 2025