Our much-anticipated Pacific Bluefin Tuna fishing trip in Genkai-nada was abruptly cancelled due to a "ban on fishing and harvesting" from June 3 to June 30, 2026. Honestly, this was a shocking development, and I'm left speechless.

In the world of recreational fishing, where we might get out on the water only once or twice a month, this sudden shutdown is a heavy blow. Observing the responses from the Fisheries Agency and other ministries, one can't help but feel that Japan is somewhat amiss. There's a noticeable lack of constructive, on-the-ground discussions among the Fisheries Agency, commercial fishers, and us anglers. As a result, nobody truly understands why these measures are necessary, leading to a build-up of frustration. This isn't just about bluefin tuna; it extends to issues like the consumption tax and naphtha prices, to name a few.

PHOTO by TATSUYOSHI NEGI
The angler's dream, the diamond of the sea. How should we act to preserve this magnificent fish for the future?

Recovery and Beyond / Beyond Recovery

Learning from the Atlantic: The "Next Move" in Pacific Bluefin Tuna Management

The recovery of Pacific Bluefin Tuna (hon-maguro) resources is, in fact, a rare success story in global fisheries management. The spawning stock biomass, which had plummeted to just 1.7% of its initial level in 2010, recovered to approximately 144,000 tons by 2022. This is roughly a tenfold increase from 2010, achieving the recovery target of 20% of the initial stock level significantly earlier than anticipated. WWF Japan describes this achievement as "13 years ahead of schedule."

However, we must not be complacent. Now that resources have recovered, I believe we are entering a phase where the quality of management—"how to continue fishing"—is being tested. And when we measure the Pacific against that yardstick, we see a significant, undeniable difference compared to the management system in the Atlantic (Europe and North America). By comparing the regulations in both regions, we can discern the path Japan should take to ensure this recovery is not a fleeting stroke of luck.

The Atlantic Model / A World Where Rules Determine Numbers

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna are managed by ICCAT (International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas). At the annual meeting held in Spain in November 2025, new Total Allowable Catches (TACs) for 2026-2028 were decided. The Western Atlantic will see 3,081.6 tons and the Eastern Atlantic/Mediterranean 48,403 tons, representing increases of 13% and 19.3% respectively from the previous period. The annual quota for commercial and recreational fishing in the US is also expected to increase by approximately 191 tons in 2026.

What is noteworthy here is not the "content" of the quota increase but the "method" of its determination. Atlantic Bluefin Tuna already has a Management Procedure (MP) based on MSE (Management Strategy Evaluation). This is a rule-based system that calculates TACs according to a pre-agreed management procedure. This makes it less likely to fall into political stalemate, such as being unable to reduce quotas when resources deteriorate.

Furthermore, the Atlantic operates with a CDS (Catch Documentation Scheme). This is a system aimed at excluding illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing from the market by ensuring traceability, primarily for international trade and imports, through certificates that indicate when, where, by whom, and how much was caught. Rules for fishing and traceability for distribution. This two-tiered structure forms the backbone of Atlantic-style management.

On the Water in North America / Permits for Anglers Too

The strictness of management in North American waters extends not only to commercial fishing but also to recreational fishing. To target Atlantic Bluefin Tuna from a boat in the US, a NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) HMS (Highly Migratory Species) permit is required. The US system meticulously manages size, number of fish, area, and reporting obligations, primarily centered around permitted vessels.

• Retainable Size: 27 to 73 inches fork length (approx. 69 to 185 cm). Fish over 73 inches are classified as "trophies," limited to one per vessel per year.
• Bag Limit: From June 1, 2026, pleasure boats are limited to 2 fish per day (or trip), and charter boats to 3 fish. Both are "per vessel, per day or trip," with only one of those allowed to be a larger size between 47 and 73 inches.
• Spawning Ground Protection: Targeting bluefin tuna is completely prohibited in the Gulf of Mexico, which is a spawning area.
• Reporting Obligation: Retained or dead individuals must be reported within 24 hours of landing.
• Catch and Release Culture: Catch & Release / Tag & Release is institutionalized, requiring handling that maximizes survival rates when releasing fish, without removing them from the water. Specialized releasers like Platilco, developed for quick release at the boat's side, are based on this philosophy.

Permits, size, number, location, and reporting. The actions of each individual angler are firmly integrated into resource management figures.

The Pacific Picture / Recovery is Real, but Management is Halfway There

What about Pacific Bluefin Tuna? Under the WCPFC (Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission), Japan, as a major fishing and consuming nation, is deeply involved in resource management, and the dramatic recovery has been praised as a good example of nature-positive action. However, here's where the problems begin.

Firstly, the delay in rule-based management.
At the WCPFC Northern Committee meeting held in Toyama in July 2025, an agreement on a medium- to long-term harvest strategy based on MSE was expected, but the agreement failed, and discussions were postponed. While management procedures are already in place in the Atlantic, a harvest strategy based on MSE has not yet been agreed upon or implemented for Pacific Bluefin Tuna. Quota increases are decided, but the automatic rules to govern them are undeveloped, and management still largely depends on negotiations at each meeting.

Secondly, the shadow of IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing.
In recent years, a series of unreported bluefin tuna catches have been discovered in Japan. While the Fisheries Agency has strengthened domestic laws, domestic measures alone cannot prevent unreported catches overseas. A plan to introduce CDS (Catch Documentation Scheme) for Pacific Bluefin Tuna, led by Japan, has been under consideration, and progress was made at the 2025 meeting, including the completion of specifications. However, as it will involve operations across two regional fisheries management organizations, WCPFC and IATTC, actual implementation is yet to come.

Thirdly, lagging recreational fishing management.
In Japan, recreational fishing regulations by the Wide Area Fisheries Adjustment Committee began in June 2021, and from April 2026 (Reiwa 8), the bag limit will be tightened to "one fish per person per period," and a registration system will also be introduced. Considering that the permit system in North America has been functioning for many years, it must be said that Japan is only just at the starting line.

Two Oceans, Compared / What's the Difference?

In terms of the "result" of resource levels, the Pacific has made a significant comeback. However, in terms of the "system" that supports this result, the Atlantic is one or two steps ahead. Recovery is the outcome of regulations, and it is not a reason to relax those regulations. Whether this obvious fact has been institutionalized may be the fundamental difference between the two.

The Road Ahead / The Path We Should Take

As a recovering nation, a consuming nation, and a leading nation in management, Japan bears a heavy responsibility to "protect" this recovery. What path should we take, based on what we've learned?

• Early Agreement on MSE and Harvest Strategy: Stop postponing. Agreeing on a system that automatically applies brakes when resources deteriorate, during political prosperity, is the greatest insurance against repeating past overfishing.
• Completion of CDS Implementation and Eradication of IUU: Create a situation where "uncertified tuna cannot be distributed." This is also a means for Japan, the largest consumer of bluefin tuna, to demonstrate the legitimacy of its market to the world.
• Advancement of Recreational Fishing Management: Using registration with the Fisheries Agency and the introduction of a reporting system as milestones, move towards a system where each angler's catch and release data is reflected in resource data through tagging, etc. The North American example shows that recreational activities like fishing can be incorporated into the system as collaborators in management, rather than being antagonized.
• Shift in Mindset: From "quota increase = victory" to "sustainability = value." Shift to a culture that evaluates the ability to continue fishing according to rules as an achievement itself, rather than the sheer volume of catch. Our proposed "all release" approach is also based on a paradigm shift for anglers to participate in future recreational fishing management, provided that the fundamental premise of not targeting fish during the fishing ban period is observed.