A commission monitoring bluefin tuna populations has agreed to raise annual catch quotas in the western and central Pacific Ocean.
Japan supported the decision, which will need ratification at the yearly meeting of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission starting in November.
A total of 16 countries and regions attended the bluefin conference in the city of Kushiro in Hokkaido that ended on Tuesday. The participants included Japan, the US and South Korea.
The quota for bluefin weighing 30 kilograms or more will be raised 50 percent. Catches for fish less than that weight will be raised 10 percent.
The increase in quotas for the smaller bluefin is the first since restrictions were introduced in 2015 to help populations recover.