Bluefin tuna fishing ban in Miyagi to prevent overfishing

Miyagi Prefecture has placed a ban fishing for small bluefin tuna less than 30 kg until September 30 2019. This comes after the estimate that the amount of tuna acquired this year may exceed limits set by the prefecture. This consequence of overfishing might come from the fact that small bluefin tuna are caught with nets and dragnets used to catch swordfish more than with special nets used to catch bluefin tuna. Miyagi is the first prefecture in the Tohoku region to implement such a prohibition order.

The catch regulation for pacific bluefin tuna was introduced by Japan’s Fisheries Agency in January 2018. It sets the quota for the amount of fish boats, companies and fishermen are able to take from the seas. Miyagi Prefecture created their quota policy based off the recent regulation by Japan’s Fishery Agency and are now on the brink of exceeding the capture limit. Under the same policy, a capture ban may be implemented when catches of small bluefin tuna reach a certain level. Miyagi’s catch maximum for bluefish tuna between April and September was set to 1.5 tons; however, according to a report issued by the prefecture on April 15, the capture limit set between April and September has already reached 96 percent, or 1.44 tons. Those who violate this policy face a three-year jail term or a fine equivalent to 2 million yen.

Bluefin tuna is divided between offshore fisheries, which are managed by the Japan Fisheries Agency, and coastal agriculture industries, which are managed by each prefecture. The Fisheries Agency has allocated a total of 53.5 tons of bluefin tuna catches to Miyagi Prefecture. Moreover, 53.5 tons are divided between different industries within Miyagi prefecture.

Fishing companies have raised concerns regarding the ban on small bluefin tuna out of fear that sales will begin to decline. Although the Japan Fisheries Agency suggested raising the capture quota at the Western & Central Pacific Fisheries Commission in September 2018, the proposal was rejected. Fisheries throughout Japan who do not properly manage their fish stocks are at risk for overfishing.