A 300kg Bluefin Tuna caught off the coast of Whitby has sold for £5,000 to a sushi restaurant in the Channel Islands.
The enormous Bluefin landed in Whitby, North Yorkshire, on Thursday before being transported to Jersey using a forklift and "four strong guys". In making it to Jersey, the tuna is believed to be the largest specimen to ever reach the island.
Logistical challenge in Jersey
Connor McMurray, of Dunn-Ross Fisheries, was alerted to the catch by his UK supplier MCB. The fish was then later sold to Kyoto Prefecture, a sushi restaurant in St Helier, for £5k after the chef specifically requested a "showpiece" fish.
It was brought ashore by Dominator A, the same boat that recently made headlines after its crew landed a 338kg Bluefin Tuna, the first caught and landed in Whitby for almost 90 years with the help of teen Ada Peake. But its sheer size almost stopped it from reaching the fish market in Jersey.
Freight operator Ferryspeed initially required a forklift to remove the fish from the back of the lorry, which they did not have. Instead staff used a pulley winch system and trolleys to manoeuvre the giant fish from the delivery vehicle, which required them to temporarily close the pavement outside the business to safely move the catch.
Extra manpower and preparation
Once the tuna was offloaded, Connor realised more manpower would be needed. He then turned to four bodybuilder friends to help manoeuvre the fish from the lorry.
Connor said: "I knew I needed some stronger blokes, so I phoned up a mate who's got a building company over here, and I said, 'I need four of your strongest guys'. Me, two staff members, and with those four, we managed to lift it out of the box. I think the head alone weighed about 40kg.
"We had a really good reaction from the public. We had about a crowd of 50 people who were even FaceTiming or live streaming. It was a really nice atmosphere for us in the fish market."
They then spent around two hours preparing the fish, carefully dividing it into eight sections rather than the usual four to avoid damaging the premium meat.
Connor said: "It took us about two hours to get it off the bone. We had to do it in eight different sections because it was that big."
Growing demand for Bluefin
He understands the tuna to be the largest fish imported to Jersey so far, adding that demand for Bluefin continues to grow. He explained: "We've bought and sold 20 Bluefin Tuna caught locally now as well. I didn't think it would sell this quick, but we can't seem to get enough of it."
Connor saw photos of the Bluefin Tuna before it arrived, but said they hadn't prepared him for the reality. He said: "When I was told it was 300 kilos, I got sent some photos, but photos don't do it justice. When I saw it, it was the first time I thought, 'What have I got myself into?' I was shocked."
Connor also added that the fish highlights the remarkable marine life found in waters around Jersey and the UK. He said: "It's incredible to think fish of this size are swimming in UK and Jersey waters. You normally only see fish like that on TV. You don't really get the chance to see one in person."
But while the enormous tuna proved a logistical challenge, Connor said he would welcome the opportunity to handle another one in the future. "It was definitely a challenge, but it was great to be a part of it," he said. "The public were really supportive and excited to see the fish. It was definitely a showpiece."
