TOKYO - An international meeting on Pacific bluefin tuna resource management reached agreement on August 18 to raise the catch quota for large fish in the western and central Pacific by 25% while reducing the quota for smaller fish by 6%, a shift that could eventually lower prices for the prized tuna used in high-end sushi and sashimi.
Under the new resource management framework agreed by all participating countries and regions, the quota for Pacific bluefin tuna weighing 30 kilograms or more will increase by 25% in the western and central Pacific, including waters used by Japan.
The quota for smaller bluefin tuna, which are considered important for maintaining future stocks, will be reduced by 6%.
Following formal procedures, the new limits are expected to apply for two years beginning in 2027.
The quota for large bluefin tuna in the western and central Pacific will rise to 14,836 tons, according to the fisheries minister, who said the agreement represented progress toward setting catch limits appropriate to the condition of the resource.
Pacific bluefin tuna, sometimes known as the "black diamond" because of its high value, has traded at increasingly high prices in recent years.
At a tuna izakaya in Tokyo, fresh sashimi and grilled tuna dishes are among the most popular menu items. The restaurant purchases about 5 kilograms of tuna each day, but rising wholesale prices have increased costs substantially.
A restaurant representative said the amount now costs around 6,500 yen and described prices as having risen almost continuously, with costs increasing by roughly 1,000 yen compared with 2023.
Pacific bluefin stocks once fell so sharply because of excessive fishing that the species faced serious conservation concerns. International restrictions on catches were subsequently introduced, helping stocks recover significantly.
The recovery has now created a different problem in some fishing communities. Large catches can cause fishermen to reach their allocated quotas quickly, forcing them to limit fishing even when bluefin tuna are abundant.
In waters off Hakodate, Hokkaido, large numbers of bluefin tuna have been caught in fixed nets. When catches exceed permitted levels, fishermen have been forced to open the nets to release the tuna, allowing other commercially valuable fish caught alongside them to escape as well and reducing fishing income.
The situation prompted negotiations over a new catch framework at an international meeting in July.
Japan proposed increasing the quota for bluefin tuna weighing at least 30 kilograms by 25%. Discussions had moved toward agreement, but Mexico raised objections late in the meeting, preventing a deal.
Negotiations resumed online on August 18 from a restricted room at the Fisheries Agency, with Japan again seeking approval for the quota increase.
The participating countries and regions ultimately agreed to the 25% increase for large tuna in the western and central Pacific. Further negotiations will now be required to determine how the enlarged quota is allocated among Japan and other countries in the region.
Experts said expanding the quota in response to the recovery in tuna stocks can be justified from a resource-management perspective, but warned that negotiations over allocation are likely to remain difficult.
Agreement is often easier when catch quotas must be reduced because stocks are declining and there is a shared need for conservation, one expert said. Dividing an increased quota is more difficult because the additional fishing rights translate directly into economic benefits for individual countries.
The larger catch limit could also affect retail prices in Japan.
One expert said prices for akami, or lean tuna, are unlikely to fall substantially because supplies remain tight, but fattier cuts such as chutoro and otoro could become more affordable if increased catches boost supply.
As an example, the expert said a serving currently priced at 580 yen might fall to around 480 yen.
The agreement applies only to Pacific bluefin tuna. Other species commonly used for lean tuna dishes, including yellowfin and bigeye tuna, are managed under separate systems, making a broad decline in tuna prices unlikely.
The deal reached on August 18 largely follows the proposal discussed in July, with Japan making no major concessions to secure the agreement.
The 25% expansion applies to the western side of the Pacific, including Japan, while the eastern Pacific, which includes Mexico, is managed separately. The increase could lead to greater domestic supplies of bluefin tuna and potentially lower prices for fatty cuts prized by Japanese consumers.
Source: Kyodo
