Japan's Fisheries Agency has announced a proposal to halve the annual catch of immature Pacific bluefin tuna. The proposal is expected to be officially adopted at a December meeting of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, established in 2004 to conserve and manage fish stocks.
Unfortunately the commission has not yet done enough to ensure sustainable and healthy fish populations. The proposal, even if it is adopted, may be too little too late.
The commission's membership includes nearly every country in the north Pacific, so the proposal is an important one if people in Japan and around the world want to continue eating tuna.