World’s most expensive fish costing around £2.5million washes up in Chichester West Sussex 

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World’s most expensive fish washes up on English coast: ‘Remarkable’ 28-stone blue fin tuna – that can sell for as much as £2.5million – is found dead in harbour in West Sussex

  •  Largest of the tuna species it can reach up to 3m in length and weigh 600kg
  •  The species is used to open sea where it can swim unconstrained to hunt prey
  •  It was winched onboard the IFCA’s patrol vessel where marine experts studied it

By Sabi Phagura for MailOnline

Published: | Updated:

An enormous rare fish which is one of the world’s most expensive species has washed up on the English coast.

The ‘remarkable’ giant tuna is a delicacy in Japan and one once fetching a record £2.5 million at auction.

The 180kg (28 stones 4lbs) tuna mysteriously made its way into Chichester Harbour, West Sussex, where it was found dead.

Catch of the day: This giant tuna is a delicacy in Japan with one once fetching a record £2.5 million at auction

The two-metre long fish was identified as an Atlantic Bluefin tuna – the largest of the tuna species, which can reach up to 3m in length and weigh more than 600kg.

It had to be winched onboard the IFCA’s patrol vessel ‘Watchful’ where marine experts studied the fish.

Scientists concluded the fish died recently and showed no signs of damage after examining tissue and bone samples.

Tim Dapling, chief fisheries and conservation officer at the Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority, said: “This is a very unusual and positive event in terms of fisheries the marine environment and the presence of a key species.

“Although it is a pity the fish was not alive, it is first time we have an encountered at close quarters a Bluefin tuna specimen in Sussex coastal waters.

“It was a quite remarkable and impressive fish. 

‘Why it was in Chichester Harbour or came ashore may never be clear, but we do know species such as mackerel and bass are present in numbers within the harbour and perhaps it entered the harbour to feed and became disorientated.

The two-metre long fish which mysteriously turned up at Chichester Harbour is identified as an Atlantic Bluefin tuna

The two-metre long fish which mysteriously turned up at Chichester Harbour is identified as an Atlantic Bluefin tuna

This impressive fish was winched onboard the IFCA’s patrol vessel ‘Watchful’ where marine experts studied it

This impressive fish was winched onboard the IFCA’s patrol vessel ‘Watchful’ where marine experts studied it

Far from your average supermarket tin: Why bluefin tuna can fetch sums in the millions 

The law of supply and demand is one factor why bluefin tuna is so expensive. Limited supply and huge export costs have resulted in price hikes.

Japanese demand in the fish has resulted in chefs and restaurateurs going to auctions where a large bluefin can fetch upwards of $70,000. A staggering 80 per cent of the world’s bluefin tuna is consumed by Japan. Conservation groups have blamed the fish’s population decline on the sushi and sashimi industry. They warn the species could be endangered unless fishing quotas are introduced.

 

“Presently we have spring tides, and at low water the channels of the harbour can be relatively shallow and narrow.

“A fish of this size and species is used to open sea areas where it can swim unconstrained to hunt prey.

“The adult Bluefin tuna are at the top of the marine food chain and the increasing presence of top predators typically indicates the improving health of ecosystems.

“Of course, this was just one fish, however I’d be surprised if it was the only one in Sussex waters.”

In January, a Japanese sushi boss forked out almost £2.5m for a Bluefin tuna which weighed 278kg at auction in Tokyo.