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| Overfishing causes Pacific bluefin tuna numbers to drop 96% | Overfishing causes Pacific bluefin tuna numbers to drop 96% |
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| A new assessment of Pacific bluefin tuna shows populations of the fish have fallen by more than 96% as a result of decades of overfishing. Conservationists also warned that the vast majority caught were juveniles and had never reproduced. | |
| The latest data from the international scientific committee which monitors tuna in the Pacific showed stocks were a small fraction of what they had been and were in danger of all but disappearing, the Pew Environment Group said. | The latest data from the international scientific committee which monitors tuna in the Pacific showed stocks were a small fraction of what they had been and were in danger of all but disappearing, the Pew Environment Group said. |
| Fishing vessels continue to catch the species in its only known spawning and nursery areas in the western Pacific, while management in the eastern Pacific is better but still not enough to halt the decline, the environmental group said. | Fishing vessels continue to catch the species in its only known spawning and nursery areas in the western Pacific, while management in the eastern Pacific is better but still not enough to halt the decline, the environmental group said. |
| The conservationists also warned that more than 90% of bluefin tuna caught were juveniles and had not had a chance to reproduce before they were killed. | The conservationists also warned that more than 90% of bluefin tuna caught were juveniles and had not had a chance to reproduce before they were killed. |
| Pew Environment Group called for fishing to be suspended until significant steps were taken to reverse the species' decline. | Pew Environment Group called for fishing to be suspended until significant steps were taken to reverse the species' decline. |
| Pacific bluefin tuna is highly valuable and a sushi delicacy in Japan, with a single fish fetching more than £1m at auction in Tokyo a few days ago. | Pacific bluefin tuna is highly valuable and a sushi delicacy in Japan, with a single fish fetching more than £1m at auction in Tokyo a few days ago. |
| Amanda Nickson, who directs global tuna conservation at the Pew Environment Group, said: "This latest assessment shows just how bad the situation really is for this top predator. | Amanda Nickson, who directs global tuna conservation at the Pew Environment Group, said: "This latest assessment shows just how bad the situation really is for this top predator. |
| "This highly valuable fish is being exploited at almost every stage of its lifecycle, and more than 90% of Pacific bluefin caught are juveniles, taken before they have even reproduced. | "This highly valuable fish is being exploited at almost every stage of its lifecycle, and more than 90% of Pacific bluefin caught are juveniles, taken before they have even reproduced. |
| "Further, fishing continues on the spawning grounds of this heavily overfished tuna species." | "Further, fishing continues on the spawning grounds of this heavily overfished tuna species." |
| She added: "This new data shows that the population of Pacific bluefin is a small fraction of what it used to be and is in danger of all but disappearing." | She added: "This new data shows that the population of Pacific bluefin is a small fraction of what it used to be and is in danger of all but disappearing." |
| Pew Environment Group said measures to preserve the species, which is fished primarily by Japan, Mexico, South Korea and the US, included science-based limits on catches. | Pew Environment Group said measures to preserve the species, which is fished primarily by Japan, Mexico, South Korea and the US, included science-based limits on catches. |
| Major reductions in the catch of juveniles, by implementing minimum size limits across the Pacific and preventing fishing in spawning grounds, are also needed, along with robust monitoring and enforcement of the rules, the group said. | Major reductions in the catch of juveniles, by implementing minimum size limits across the Pacific and preventing fishing in spawning grounds, are also needed, along with robust monitoring and enforcement of the rules, the group said. |
| The Atlantic bluefin tuna is also threatened by overfishing, but the body overseeing the region in November decided to set quotas for the species in line with scientific advice, a move welcomed by conservation groups. | The Atlantic bluefin tuna is also threatened by overfishing, but the body overseeing the region in November decided to set quotas for the species in line with scientific advice, a move welcomed by conservation groups. |