Japan: no ban needed on bluefin tuna trade

Regarding the agreement to slash next year's catch quotas for Atlantic bluefin tuna, Japan, a major tuna consumer, says the cutback, if observed, would be enough to protect the fish from extinction.

On Sunday, an international commission of 48 members agreed to cut next year's catch quota of bluefin tuna in the eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea by about 38 percent from this year.

The government and experts say they do not expect an immediate increase in retail prices, as there are stocks to satisfy demand for some period, and also as demand for the expensive fish remains low amid the recession.

Concerning an international move to impose a total ban on the trade in blue tuna, Japanese officials say a trade ban aimed at protecting the fish is unnecessary, now that a major cut in its catch quota has been decided.

Last month, Monaco proposed a total ban on trade in bluefin tuna from the Atlantic Ocean under the Washington Convention. The convention regulates international trade in endangered species.

Japan hopes to persuade other nations to join it against Monaco at an international meeting to discuss the proposal, scheduled in March.

The latest fishing quota cut would have a major impact on Japan, because it consumes up to 80 percent of the bluefin tuna landed worldwide.