TOKYO: Mexico has reversed its position on increasing the catch quota for Pacific bluefin tuna and is now in favour, paving the way for a boost in Japan’s quota starting in 2027. This development is due to the recovery of stocks resulting from previously enacted restrictions.
Mexico initially opposed the measure at an international conference in July.
The catch quota for Pacific bluefin tuna — a species prized for high-end sushi and sashimi — is expected to increase by 25% in the central and western Pacific Ocean, its primary fishing grounds.
“It was truly an emergency,” said Norikazu Suzuki, minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, at a press conference on Tuesday. “The fact that we were able to secure Mexico’s support and reach a consensus is something to be greatly welcomed.”
At an international conference in Nagasaki in July, a draft centred on Japan’s proposal to increase the catch quota for large fish by 25% was drawn up. Discussions had appeared to be nearing a conclusion. However, at the last minute, Mexico expressed its opposition, and the conference concluded without reaching an agreement.
This time, the draft from that occasion was largely adopted.
Following the agreement, negotiations will begin to allocate quotas with Japan, South Korea and Taiwan for the western and central Pacific.
“We will work with a sense of urgency to secure our fishing quota,” Suzuki said.
But it remains unclear how much Japan’s quota will increase as South Korea wants a larger share for themselves.
The catch quota for bluefin tuna, which migrates widely across the Pacific, is managed by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) in the western region — which includes Japan — and by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) in the eastern region. Against the backdrop of declining stocks, catch restrictions were introduced in 2015. Since then, quotas have gradually increased.
The focus of this round of negotiations was balancing the catch amount between the eastern and western waters.
Based on various factors including past catch records, the western region has been allocated a larger share of the catch quota. In contrast, eastern region countries such as the United States and Mexico wish to increase their share. During the July meeting, Mexico strongly pushed for an increase of the eastern region’s quota in the final stages of negotiations.
Mexico primarily exports bluefin tuna to the United States and uses it in aquaculture. Given the limited capacity for aquaculture, Mexico had not been particularly eager to increase its catch.
Takumi Fukuda, councillor of the Fisheries Agency’s Resource Management Department, led the negotiations. “It likely took time for the Mexican delegation to establish communication and reach a common understanding within their country,” he said.
Japan, which aims to expand its catch quota, needed to reach an agreement at a joint meeting of the two committees by the end of August, when the IATTC sets the catch quotas. Yuhei Yamashita, state minister of the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry, visited Mexico in late July. He asked Mexico: “This has become a major issue in our country. We hope you will endorse the proposed agreement.” Mexico subsequently reversed its position and supported the proposal.
Under this agreement, the countries in the western region will reduce their catch quota of small fish — which can also include bluefin tuna — by 6%. The quota for those in the eastern region will increase by 2% from 7,581 tonnes to 7,740 tonnes, resulting in a settlement that also took the eastern region’s interests into account.
The WCPFC adopted conservation and management measures, and Japan also implemented strict regulations, such as returning bluefin tuna caught in nets back to the sea. These efforts proved successful, leading to a recovery in stocks. Numbers reached a record high of 144,000 tonnes in 2022 compared to 2010, which saw numbers fall to 12,000 tonnes.
Toshio Katsukawa, an associate professor at Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, said: “With the recovery of stocks, the phase of negotiations has changed. Countries and regions are seeking increased catch quotas, making it difficult to reach an agreement. We should also engage in discussions regarding domestic systems on how to manage the restricted quotas.” - Japan News/ANN
