Giant tuna worth £10,000 that could feed entire town must be incinerated because of EU rules
The 9ft, 55st whopper was accidentally netted by British fishermen but because the UK does not have a quota for bluefin tuna, it has to be destroyed
A GIANT £10,000 tuna that could have fed a town will instead be incinerated due to EU rules.
The 9ft, 55st whopper was accidentally netted by British fishermen.
But the UK does not have a quota for bluefin tuna, so it has to be destroyed.
If it had been caught by the French — who do have a quota — it would have made it on to dinner tables.
Josh Perkes, co-owner of Brixham Seafish in Devon which is storing the catch, said: “It’s madness.
“It would have fed our whole town.
What a waste.”
The beast was caught by Chris Shears, skipper of the Constant Friend, who was fishing for sprats.
Josh said: “Bluefins are becoming a common sight in our waters due to rising temperatures and an abundance of bait fish.
“They’re caught by accident.
The bait he has been eating were caught and he was caught with it and ended up drowning.”
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The tuna will be sent to Exeter University for research before being burnt.
Recently the British fishing industry was outraged when French boats landed 44 bluefin tuna — worth a small fortune — off Jersey.
An Environment Department spokesman told The Sun last night: “The quota system is broken.
Leaving the EU means we can help British fishermen thrive.”
OFFICIAL LINE
THE average bluefin tuna measures 6.5ft and weighs 39st (250kg).
A 12ft, 107st beauty was once caught off the Canadian coast.
The fish travels at up to 60mph and can live for more than 50 years.
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