Pacific bluefin tuna numbers hit record high, US catch to surge 80%

The article highlights the successful recovery of the Pacific bluefin tuna population, which was previously endangered due to overfishing. Thanks to stringent management measures and international cooperation, the population has rebounded faster than expected, allowing for increased fishing limits. The U.S. will experience a significant rise in its Pacific bluefin tuna catch limit for 2025-2026, from 1,017 metric tons to 1,822 tons. This recovery is not only a biological triumph but also presents economic opportunities for the fishing industry, benefiting both fishing communities and consumers through sustainable fishing practices.

Pacific bluefin tuna is a highly migratory fish that mainly inhabits the temperate waters of the North Pacific Ocean, extending from East Asia to the west coast of North America. Long-term overfishing once pushed its population to a historic low. Between 2009 and 2012, the population of Pacific bluefin tuna dropped sharply, which aroused widespread concern from the international community. In order to save this endangered species, countries have significantly reduced fishing through a series of strict management measures, allowing Pacific bluefin tuna to gradually recover. According to the latest assessment of the International Scientific Commission for North Pacific Tuna and Tuna-like Tuna, the recovery of Pacific bluefin tuna populations is ten years ahead of schedule. This recovery is not only a biological success, but also brings economic opportunities to the global fishery. Driven by the recovery of this population, the US fishing limit will surge in 2025-2026. The ...