Pacific saury catch quota reduced by 5% in 2026

Pacific Saury Protection Tightens: International Commission Agrees to New Catch Limits

JAPAN
Wednesday, April 22, 2026, 00:10 (GMT + 9)

Global regulators settle on a 5% reduction for 2026 despite Japan's push for more aggressive conservation measures.

The 10th meeting of the North Pacific Fisheries Commission (NPFC) concluded in Osaka on the 17th , resulting in a new international agreement to scale back Pacific saury fishing. To protect dwindling stocks, the nine participating countries and regions—including Japan , China , Taiwan , and Russia —agreed to reduce the total catch quota for 2026 by 5% .

While the reduction is a step toward sustainability, it fell short of the 10% cut proposed by the Japanese government . Japan had advocated for a more significant reduction to help restore the low-level resource, but consensus was hindered by disagreements over how to assess current stock levels. While China and other nations initially argued to maintain 2025 levels, the delegation eventually settled on the 5% compromise.

Key Quota Adjustments and Data

The new agreement sets a strict ceiling for the coming years, covering both the high seas and the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) :

• 2026 Total Catch Quota: 192,375 tons (A 5% reduction from the current 202,500 tons ).

• 2027 Total Catch Quota: A further 10% reduction from the 2026 limit.

• Japan's 2025 Context: The high seas quota was approximately 16,000 tons , with a combined total of 81,000 tons within the Japanese and Russian EEZs .

Impact on Markets and Local Fisheries

Despite the tighter restrictions, the Fisheries Agency expects the domestic impact to be minimal. Because Japanese fishermen are permitted to transfer unused quotas from within their EEZ to the high seas, the new limits are not expected to disrupt current fishing patterns significantly.

Fukuda , Counselor of the Fisheries Agency Resource Management Department , clarified the scope of the decision:

"The total annual catch of saury across the entire distribution area, including both the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the high seas, will be reduced by 5%, and it has been agreed that the total catch will be managed within a limit of 192,375 tons."

The Fisheries Agency further noted that there will likely be "no significant impact" on market prices for consumers.

Historical Context

The struggle to manage the species comes after a period of volatility. In 2013 , Japan’s catch reached approximately 64,800 tons . Although this figure did not hit the maximum quota at the time, it represented a 1.7-fold increase over the previous year. Experts attribute that specific surge to the Oyashio Current extending further toward Japan than anticipated, creating highly productive fishing grounds near the coast.

With the 2027 quota already set for a double-digit decrease, the commission signals a long-term commitment to preventing the collapse of this vital Pacific resource.

🇯🇵 Japanese

Strengthening of marine resource protection: International Committee agrees on new fish catch reduction

The North Pacific Fisheries Commission and Japan have decided to implement a 10% reduction proposal and a 5% reduction in 2026.

The 10th session of the North Pacific Fisheries Commission (NPFC) 's 10th annual meeting of the North Pacific Fisheries Commission (NPFC) ended in Osaka on the 17th , and the new international agreement on resource protection of the South Pacific Ocean was announced . Low-level resource response to Japan , China , Taiwan, Japan , China , and the region The current fishing catch in 2026 is 202,500 yuan , which is **5%** and is reduced by 5%.

The Japanese government has proposed a 10% reduction of 10% reduction in the rate of reduction . Japan 's resource recovery plan, its proposal for a substantial reduction, and its resource assessment method are inconsistent with each other's opinions, and it is difficult to navigate based on consensus. China originally advocated the maintenance of the catch in 2025 , and finally decided on the compromise plan to reduce the **5%**.

Main adjustments to the catch

This time the agreement is the same, the high seas are the exclusive waters (EEZ), the upper limit is set for the next few years, and the limit is set for the next few years.

• 2026 fishing catch: 192,375 トン(current 202,500 トンから**5%** reduction)

• 2027 fishing catch: 2026 fishing catch **10%** reduction

• Japan's situation in 2025: The catch on the high seas is about 16,000 fish , and the total fish caught in Japan 's EEZ is 81,000 fish .

Market impact on domestic fisheries

Restrictions are imposed on domestic fishery products, and domestic fishery products are affected by restrictions. Japan 's fishermen, the fishermen from the country's EEZ , the fishermen, the catchers, the high seas, the fisherman, the fisherman, the fisherman, the fisherman, the fisherman, the fisherman, the fisherman from the country's EEZ.できるため、Now the new たな limit がNow the karma form を大きく乱 すことはないと yu think される.

The Fisheries and Resources Management Department ’s Fukuda Counselor and the decision-making committee of this time will explain the following.

" Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the high seas area include the entire distribution area, and the annual fish catch rate is 5% reduction, the catch amount is 192,375, and the management is within the limit."

さらに鱼庁は、consumers' opinions on the けのmarket 価格についても**「大きな Impact はない」**とのViews している.

Historical background

この Fish species management を め ぐ る discussion は, 変 动 の stim し い period を経 て row わ れ て い る. In 2013 , Japan ’s catch was approximately 64,800 fish . The number of the catch at that time was the same as that of the previous year, which was about 1.7 times higher than the previous year.専门家は, このspecific の Emergency increase について, Oyashio yu want to be above にJapanese offshore まで Zhang り出し, 日本海Good なfishing ground がformation されたためとukao えている.

2027 catch reduction (10% reduction) setting committee It is important to prevent the collapse of resources in the Pacific and prevent long-term damage to the group.

🇨🇳 Simplified Chinese

Strengthening the protection of Pacific saury resources: International Commission reaches agreement on new catch quotas

Despite Japan pushing for larger-scale protection measures, global regulators have decided to cut production by 5% in 2026.

The 10th annual meeting of the North Pacific Fisheries Commission (NPFC), which discusses international resource management of Pacific saury, concluded successfully in Osaka on the 17th , reaching a new international agreement aimed at protecting Pacific saury resources. To restore the low-level fish population, nine countries and regions, including China, Japan, Taiwan, and Russia, agreed to reduce their total catch quota for 2026 by 5 % from the current 202,500 tons .

While the production cuts are a step towards sustainable development, they fall short of the Japanese government's target of a 10% reduction . Japan had advocated for even larger cuts to aid resource recovery, but disagreements over how to assess current fish population levels hampered reaching a consensus. Although countries like China initially advocated maintaining 2025 levels, delegations ultimately reached a compromise of a 5% reduction .

Key quota adjustments and data

The new agreement sets strict caps for the coming years, covering the high seas and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) :

• Total catch quota for 2026: 192,375 tons ( a 5% reduction from the current 202,500 tons ).

• **Total catch quota for 2027:** A further reduction of 10% from the 2026 quota .

• Japan's 2025 background: The high seas fishing quota is approximately 16,000 tons , and the combined quota within the exclusive economic zones of Japan and Russia is 81,000 tons .

Impact on the market and local fisheries

Despite the tightening restrictions, the Fisheries Agency expects minimal impact domestically. Since Japanese fishermen are permitted to transfer any unused fishing quotas from their exclusive economic zones to the high seas, the new restrictions are not anticipated to significantly disrupt current fishing practices.

Fukuda, counselor of the Resource Management Department of the Fisheries Agency, clarified the scope of the decision:

"The total annual catch of saury in the entire distribution area, including the **Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)** and the high seas, will be reduced by 5% , and an agreement has been reached to limit the total catch to 192,375 tons ."

The Fisheries Agency further pointed out that market prices are likely to have **"no significant impact" on consumers**.

Historical background

The struggle for management rights over this species occurred after a period of fluctuation. In 2013 , Japan 's catch reached approximately 64,800 tons . While this figure did not reach the catch quota limit at the time, it was about 1.7 times higher than the previous year . Experts attributed this particular increase to the Oyashio Current extending further towards Japan than expected, thus creating favorable fishing grounds in the waters near Japan .

With the 2027 quota set at a double-digit decline, the committee is signaling a long-term commitment to preventing the collapse of this vital Pacific resource.

editorial@seafood.media
www.seafood.media

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