A dramatic video capturing a bluefin tuna leaping out of the water off the coast of Newquay, Cornwall, has sparked debate after its authenticity was questioned on social media. The footage, recorded last week by Jacob Waller, 23, manager of the Newquay Activity Centre, shows the large fish bursting from the sea with a mackerel in its mouth during a feeding frenzy near Fistral Beach.

Waller, who posted the video online, defended its legitimacy amid widespread skepticism. “It’s a real video,” he said, describing the event as “an insane moment” captured just before lunchtime. He explained that bluefin tuna are present in local waters from mid-summer through late autumn, following their return after a prolonged absence in the 1990s due to overfishing.

The footage depicts surfers waiting for waves as a small fish jumps out behind them, immediately followed by the much larger tuna lunging from the water in pursuit. This sighting aligns with reports of a resurgence of bluefin tuna along the British coastline, particularly in Cornwall, where the fish follow shoals of prey close to shore.

Bluefin tuna are among the largest and fastest predatory fish in the world. Their reappearance in UK waters is attributed to international conservation efforts aimed at reducing overfishing. These measures have allowed the species to recover in some areas after decades of decline.

The presence of bluefin tuna near Newquay marks a significant ecological development, reflecting broader changes in marine life distributions around Britain’s coasts. However, the striking nature of the video has led to divided opinion online over whether it was authentic or digitally altered. Waller has maintained that the encounter was genuine and representative of the current state of marine wildlife in the region.