Bluefin tuna spotted

From the Sun: Bluefin tuna spotted off Dorset..and killed AN endangered fish made a rare appearance in British waters - only to be speared by a diver.

AN endangered fish made a rare appearance in British waters - only to be speared by a diver.

Brett Morison, in his 20s, caught the northern bluefin tuna while underwater fishing with pals in Portland Harbour, Dorset.

His 35lb catch is thought to be a UK spearfishing record. Now thousands of anglers are expected to flock to the South Coast hoping to land one of the fish, which can grow to nearly 1,000lbs. A tackle firm is even offering a prize for the first to catch one.

But the species is rated "critically endangered" after years of over-fishing and conservationists have warned it should be left alone.

Richard Harrington of the Marine Conservation Society said: "Bluefin tuna are at the point of extinction, and it would be irresponsible to encourage anglers and fishermen to target them." The northern bluefin is usually found in warmer waters in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, but is thought to be moving north due to global warming extending its feeding grounds.

Government fishing adviser Martin Angel said tuna could be almost as common as cod off the UK within ten years.

He said: "As the seas warm, the whole ecological system is changing. Plankton more usually associated with southern waters is taking over."