Japan secures higher bluefin tuna quotas after resumed Pacific fisheries talks

Negotiators at an online conference on Pacific bluefin tuna sustainability succeeded in crafting a compromise that expands harvest allowances for larger fish, matching Japan's demand. Japan secured an approximate 25% boost to the quota for big tuna and a modest 6% reduction for smaller specimens, following earlier talks in Nagasaki that collapsed when Mexico opposed the deal. The proposal will be presented to the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission and the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission for endorsement at their annual gatherings, with implementation slated for 2027.

This shift could increase market supply of the high-priced sushi staple, which has recovered from historic overfishing under strict international rules. Japan's Fisheries Agency had advocated for an early transition to an automatic quota system linked to stock levels, a model it also supports. The agreement marks a rare revival of negotiations that had been paused since July.