Japan, the world's top fish consumer, exceeded its catch quota for southern bluefin tuna by nearly 25 percent last year, forcing it to tighten fishing rules, officials said yesterday.
A voracious global appetite for fish, of which Japan's huge demand is a key part, has led to widespread overfishing and pushed many highly sought after species, including some varieties of bluefin tuna, close to the edge.
According to the UN, more than 70 percent of the world's commercially important fish stocks are either over-exploited, depleted, slowly recovering or close to the maximum sustainable level of exploitation.
Last year, Japan exceeded its 6,065 tonne quota of southern bluefin tuna by 1,500 tonnes, according to the Fisheries Agency, which blamed sloppy record-keeping for the disparity.
"There are some years where there's a sudden jump in catches just before the season ends, before we're able to declare the season over," he added. "Going over the quota a bit is actually not that uncommon, but this year the excess was quite large, making us think we need to revise our management system."
Quotas for each season's southern bluefin fishing are allotted by the Commission for Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna, comprising Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan and South Korea.
The fish are protected under guidelines laid down by the commission after years of heavy fishing, with the worldwide catch limited to 14,080 tons.
But Australia pointed out at the commission's annual meeting in October that as much as 99 percent of the world catch circulated in Japan, farm ministry official Shingo Kurohagi said.
Up to now, Japanese ships sent in periodic reports on their catches to the Fisheries Agency, which declared the season over when the quota was met.
"We checked the records, but it is true that we couldn't check every one," the fisheries official said.
Under the new rules, which take effect from April, each fishing company will be allotted a specific quota and will be required to tag each fish showing when and where it was caught.
Ships will also be permitted to unload their catch only at specific harbors. Violations will be punished by forbidding ships from leaving harbor, up to two years' jail and a fine of ¥500,000 (US$4,309).
Companies that buy and sell untagged and thus technically illegal fish could face punishment along with the fishing firms.
Last year, about 150,000 tonnes of tuna was consumed by Japanese households.
That tuna may be slightly pricier this year, however. In response for going over last year's quota, Japan's allotment this year will be cut by 1,500 tonnes.
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