Fishermen have caught a record-breaking 9-foot bluefin tuna weighing 621 pounds off the coast of Brixham, Devon, which has broken the national record for the area. The achievement is significant as it reflects the return of bluefin tuna populations to British waters, where they had been absent for decades, now establishing a thriving commercial fishery.

The specimen is approximately 160 pounds heavier than the previous Brixham record and is substantial enough to yield around 500 premium portions. The fish was sold at auction to Flying Fish Seafoods, which supplies Michelin-starred restaurants across the country where bluefin tuna typically commands prices of £20 to £45 per plate. British waters have experienced a notable surge in bluefin tuna numbers over the past decade, with over 200 fish landed at Brixham this year alone, with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs issuing licences to just 30 commercial vessels.