Talks start to protect Indian Ocean's depleting tuna

FILE PHOTO: A fisherman carries a tuna fish from his catch at a harbour in Lampuuk on the outskirts of Banda Aceh July 31, 2008.n. REUTERS/Tarmizy Harva

(Reuters) - Representatives of 30 nations meet on Tuesday to seek ways to save fast-depleting tuna stocks in the Indian Ocean as demand in Asia and the West soars for sushi and tinned fish.

The Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), which groups coastal countries from Australia to Kenya plus major fishing region the European Union, was convening virtually over five days to debate yellowfin tuna quotas.