Inland Fisheries Ireland has recorded the first capture and tagging of an Atlantic bluefin tuna in 2025.

The large fish, measuring 1.95 metres, was caught, measured, and tagged in the water at Donegal Bay before being released.

Authorised charter skipper Adrian Molloy, who caught the fish in the middle of the bay, also caught the first tuna of the 2024 season.

Last year, a total of 294 Atlantic bluefin tuna were tagged by authorised skippers in Irish waters through the Tuna CHART (CatcH And Release Tagging) research programme.

Dr William Roche of Inland Fisheries Ireland said the first bluefin tuna caught marks the start of an important annual study of these fish.

The bluefin catch-and-release fishery remains open until mid-November, offering anglers a unique chance to catch one of the most iconic sea fish.

All Atlantic bluefin tuna are measured and tagged in the water by authorised charter skippers and then released as part of an international scientific data-collection programme.

In Ireland, the Tuna CHART programme provides valuable insights into the distribution, seasonal presence, and sizes of bluefin tuna in Irish waters.

If any tagged tuna is recaptured, it will provide crucial information on its migration and contribute to a better understanding of tuna migration routes across the Atlantic, into the Mediterranean, or beyond.

Dr Roche said charter skippers are key partners in the programme and that Inland Fisheries Ireland greatly appreciates their significant contribution.