Seven angling charter vessels from the north west are taking part in a project to catch, tag and release the largest tuna in the world, the Atlantic bluefin tuna.
They are among 22 vessels and skippers throughout the country that are part of the Tuna CHART programme, operating from ports in Donegal, Sligo, Galway, Clare, Cork and Waterford.
Under the programme, recreational anglers on board authorised charter vessels will be catching bluefin tuna and skippers will be tagging and releasing them back into the sea, alive, from July to November.
There are five skippers from Donegal taking part.
Four are from Killybegs: Adrian Molloy on the vessel Deep Blue; Brian McGilloway on the Meridian; Michael Callaghan on LEAH-C; and Michael McGettigan on the Fiona Tee.
Patrick O Doherty, on Bundoran Star, is operating out of Bundoran Pier.
The two Sligo skippers are Daryl Ewing on the Sarah Marie from Rosses Point, and Declan Kilgannon on Kiwi Girl from Mullaghmore.
The data they collect will be used to improve knowledge about the bluefin tuna.
