Bluefin tuna population recovers in UK waters after near disappearance

Bluefin tuna have returned to UK waters in large numbers, according to a WWF report from 2026. The fish had almost completely disappeared from British seas. Hannah Rudd from the Angling Trust said the growth in numbers was close to an "explosion." Conservation groups, chefs, and retailers all pushed for stronger protections. These included lower catch limits, size rules, and protection of areas where the fish breed. Because bluefin tuna travel through many countries' waters, international cooperation was essential. The WWF's Living Planet Report 2026 named the tuna recovery as one of several positive stories. However, the same report found that monitored wildlife populations around the world have fallen by an average of 73% since 1970.