Japan Proposes Increasing Tuna Catch Quotas
Japan's Fisheries Agency has proposed raising catch quotas for Pacific bluefin tuna by a total of 20 percent. The move comes ahead of an online international conference on stocks of the fish next month.
Japan says stocks are recovering, and an increase in quotas should not hinder the trend.
The annual conference addresses catch quotas for countries and regions in light of a decline in the tuna population.
Japan made a similar proposal last year, but it was rejected. The United States insisted the recovery in stock should be prioritized. Its stance is unchanged this year.
The discussion also took place online last year. Some said the format was not suitable for in-depth negotiations.