クロマグロ枠、拡大見送り　昨年に続き米国反対―国際会議

　太平洋クロマグロの資源管理策を話し合う「中西部太平洋まぐろ類委員会（ＷＣＰＦＣ）」の北小委員会が８日、オンライン形式で開かれた。日本が提案した漁獲枠拡大に、米国は「資源量は依然として低い」と反対。昨年に続き、枠拡大は見送られた。日本の水産庁が同日発表した。
　日本は繁殖能力のある親魚の資源量が回復傾向にあると訴え、小型魚（３０キロ未満）と大型魚（３０キロ以上）の枠を共に２０％拡大することを求めていた。ただ、北小委は全会一致が原則で、米国の反対により日本の提案は退けられた。
　日本政府は戦略を練り直し、来年に開催予定の北小委で改めて増枠を提案する考えだ。（2020/10/08-19:02）

An international panel failed to adopt a Japan-proposed plan to increase catch quotas for Pacific bluefin tuna at an online conference on Thursday, in the same outcome as last year's meeting, Japan's Fisheries Agency said.
   The Northern Committee of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission reached the decision, as the United States argued that tuna stocks continue to be scarce in the Pacific and objected to the proposal. At the committee, approval from all members is required for a proposal to be passed.
   Japan claimed that the stock of adult bluefin tuna, which are capable of reproducing, has been recovering. It called for a 20 pct expansion in quotas for both fish weighing less than 30 kilograms and larger fish.
   The Japanese government plans to propose larger catch quotas again at a meeting of the panel next year after revamping its strategy.
   Meanwhile, participants agreed to extend a system in which member economies are allowed to carry over up to 17 pct of their respective annual bluefin tuna quotas to the following year if they did not use up their shares. Although the upper limit is normally set at 5 pct, Japan urged the committee to keep it at 17 pct to support fishers.