TOKYO: Japan’s Fisheries Agency has decided to allow leisure fishing boats to catch Pacific bluefin tuna from June 1 by removing the ban introduced last summer, Jiji Press learned Tuesday.

The decision was made in consideration of requests from those affected by the ban and the impact of the measure on regional economies.

In June last year, the agency introduced restrictions on recreational fishing, banning fishers from catching small bluefin tuna weighing less than 30 kilograms and requiring them to report the number of larger fish they caught

However, many large bluefin tuna were caught off the coast of Ishikawa and Niigata prefectures, both central Japan. In just over two months, the amount reached 19.9 tons, just below the limit of 20 tons recreational fishers nationwide are allowed to catch.

As the large amount caught was feared to affect the fishing industry, the government started an all-out ban on recreational fishing of Pacific bluefin tuna Aug. 21 last year, effective until May 31 this year.

In the northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido and northeastern prefecture of Aomori, where recreational fishing is a tourism resource, many canceled hotel reservations as the start of the ban coincided with the peak period of recreational fishing, according to an informed source.

After deciding the ban, the agency will consider introducing catch guidelines by sea area and month to ensure fairness between regions.

Academic experts and fishery industry people will hold discussions to decide specific regulations this spring before the ban is lifted.

JIJI Press