They agree to halve bluefin tuna fishing

An international fisheries organization showed this Thursday a substantial cut from next year in the catches of blue or common tuna in an attempt to double its amount in the oceans in ten years.

The decision of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) was announced after a four-day meeting in the Japanese city of Fukuoka.

Environmentalists welcomed the decision saying the plan to reduce catches is only a first step to save bluefin tuna, whose populations have been greatly reduced by overfishing.

Japan, the world’s largest consumer of bluefin tuna, has also pledged to reduce its catches.