Is tuna fishing allowed in Gibraltar?
Short answer
Yes, under licence. Bluefin tuna may be fished in Gibraltar's waters only by holders of a tuna fishing permit (a Class K licence), from a Gibraltar-registered vessel, during the open season and within the catch limit the Government sets each year.
Detailed answer
Bluefin tuna fishing is allowed in Gibraltar's waters, but only within a licensing system set by the Tuna Preservation Regulations 2014, made under the Nature Protection Act 1991. It is an offence to fish for tuna without a valid tuna fishing permit, to fish during the closed season, or to be in possession of tuna in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters without a permit. Permits may only be issued to Gibraltar residents who own a Gibraltar-registered vessel, and to co-users of that vessel declared by the owner. Tuna may only be fished from a Gibraltar-registered vessel. A permit lasts three years unless revoked, and the Department of the Environment refers to it as a Class K licence. Besides the permit holder, a maximum of two other people may fish for tuna aboard the vessel. Fishing is permitted only during an open season declared by the Minister by notice in the Gazette. For 2026 the open season was set in two periods: Tuesday 16 June 2026 to Saturday 25 July 2026, and Thursday 6 August 2026 to Wednesday 14 October 2026. The total allowable catch for 2026 is 30 tonnes, split into 27 tonnes for the first period and 3 tonnes for the second, which the Government said followed a review of the ICCAT quota increase for 2026. The season closes early if the catch limit is reached, and the first period was suspended from 23:00 on Thursday 2 July 2026. Dates and quotas are set afresh each year, so check the current notice before going out. Permit conditions limit each vessel to landing one tuna a day and keeping only one aboard at a time. Atlantic bluefin must weigh at least 30kg and measure at least 130cm fork length. Long lines are banned, each person may use no more than two rods or lines, a vessel no more than six, and each line may carry only one lure. Tuna must be landed whole and not alive, and in 2026 all tuna and billfish catches had to be reported and weighed at the landing station at the North Mole (No. 1 Jetty). Dolphins are protected. Popping for tuna is not allowed inside the Dolphin Protection Zone, roughly north of Rosia Bay, and casting lines close to dolphins can lead to a licence being revoked. Vessels must keep at least 60 metres from any dolphin or whale.