Deputy Steve Luce Proposes Change to Jersey Bluefin Tuna Protections

Deputy Steve Luce, Jersey’s Environment Minister, set out plans to alter the island’s approach to Atlantic bluefin tuna, Thunnus thynnus, in a detailed local report published on 5 March 2026. The species is currently protected in Jersey waters, and the report places the minister at the center of any forthcoming policy shift.

The document published on 5 March 2026 identifies the Island’s Environment Minister, Deputy Steve Luce, as the official proposing changes to existing protections for Atlantic bluefin tuna. Thunnus thynnus remains listed as protected inside Jersey’s territorial waters, and any adjustment to that status would come through actions or directives connected to the Environment Minister’s remit.

The March 5 report frames the issue as a local policy decision led by Deputy Steve Luce, noting current protections for bluefin in Jersey waters. For anglers and charter operators who target offshore species, the prospect of a change touches legal status and enforcement inside the island’s limits, because bluefin are presently protected under Jersey’s existing marine rules.

As of March 9, 2026, the report published on 5 March 2026 is the most specific public account available that links Deputy Steve Luce to proposed changes in bluefin policy. The Environment Minister’s title and the scientific name Thunnus thynnus appear prominently in the report, underlining that this is a matter of species-level management rather than a generic fisheries tweak.

The Jersey bluefin issue now sits with local decision-makers following the 5 March 2026 report. Deputy Steve Luce’s role as Environment Minister means any formal proposal, statutory amendment, or public consultation would be expected to follow from his office. For those who track local marine protections, the timing and content of subsequent statements from Deputy Steve Luce and Jersey authorities will determine whether the current protection for bluefin in Jersey waters remains unchanged or is revised.

The March 5 report places a clear marker on the calendar for Jersey’s tuna fishing community: Deputy Steve Luce has outlined plans to change the island’s approach to Atlantic bluefin tuna, Thunnus thynnus, and the protection that currently applies in Jersey waters will be the focal point for any policy actions that follow.