Japan proposes big increase in bluefin tuna fishing quota

A proposal to increase fishing quotas for bluefin tuna, a fish commonly used in Japanese cuisine, has been put forward at an international conference in Kushiro, Hokkaido. The proposal, made by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission and the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, aims to build on the success of previous quotas that have led to the recovery of fish stocks. However, agreements on expanding quotas may be difficult due to concerns from some countries. Japan, the world's largest consumer of bluefin tuna, is proposing a significant increase in quotas, but reaching an agreement will be a challenge.

The proposal was made at an international conference on managing fish stocks in Kushiro, Hokkaido, on Wednesday. Some countries remain cautious about expanding fishing quotas, so discussions on reaching an agreement may be difficult. The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), whose members include Japan and the United States, and the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, whose members include the United States and Mexico, will hold a joint meeting that will last until Saturday. The WCPFC will consider making recommendations at its annual meeting in December based on the discussions at the joint meeting. Bluefin tuna is used in sushi and sashimi and is an important part of Japanese cuisine. Japan, the world's largest consumer of this tuna, has been blamed for overfishing, which has led to a decline in the fish population from about 160,000 tons in 1961 to about 10,000 tons in 2010. International fishing The implementation of the quota has been successful, with ...