Pacific bluefin tuna catch quota to increase by 25% for large fish

An international management body has reached an agreement to increase the catch quota for large Pacific bluefin tuna weighing at least 30 kilograms by approximately 25 percent in the Central and Western Pacific. Under the new framework, the annual quota for these larger fish will rise from 11,869 tons to 14,836 tons for the 2027 and 2028 fiscal years.

To support resource conservation, the quota for smaller bluefin tuna weighing less than 30 kilograms will be reduced by 6 percent to 4,823 tons. In the Eastern Pacific, the quota will see a slight expansion from 7,581 tons to 7,740 tons.

The agreement follows a previous impasse in Nagasaki where Mexico had raised objections to a proposal led by Japan. Following bilateral discussions, Mexico shifted its stance to support the plan. The new management system will automatically calculate quotas based on resource availability and will be reviewed every two years. Final allocations for specific nations, including Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, are expected to be determined through upcoming negotiations.