A fish wholesaler has purchased a 210kg (463lb) bluefin tuna for more than £2,000.

The fish was caught on Thursday by the team at Pechos Grandes and was sold at an auction on Friday at Brixham fish market.

Ian Perkes, a wholesaler and exporter based in Brixham who bought the fish, said it was the biggest one caught in the area.

“We know they’re here… we have footage of them on a feeding frenzy so we know that there’s masses of them here but it’s certainly the biggest one that’s been landed on Brixham Market so far,” he added.

He added bluefin tuna was not always a common site in Devon’s waters.

“I’ve been doing this for 50 years next year, so this is… relatively new,” he said.

“Apparently it happened here in 1952, was the last and now we’re seeing these fish here over the last two or three years.”

Mr Perkes said he believed they had reappeared purely for food.

He said the fishermen that caught the fish – using rod and line – were not using a big boat.

“There’s a bunch of quite good fishermen that we have in our area now,” Mr Perkes said.

He added because of the size of the fish they cause “commotions in the sea which you can spot by the water frothing up”.

Mr Perkes said the bluefin tuna would be sold on within the UK as exporting to Europe regulations require all fish to be completely encased and that would require a large box.