EU: Bluefin Tuna Catches to Be Reduced

(BRUSSELS ) — The EU Commission says over 45 countries who catch tuna have agreed to cut catches of the threatened Atlantic bluefin tuna next year.

The EU executive says the decision by countries including the EU, U.S. and Japan to limit 2010 catch quotas to 13,500 tons aims to prevent overfishing of the much sought-after tuna.

The Commission announced the decision Monday following weekend talks in Brazil by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas. The body sets annual fishing limits in an effort to save the fish stock from extinction.

Catches were lowered from 28,500 tons to 22,000 this year. Scientists say that is 7,000 tons over what they would advise.

See scenes from the tuna trade.

Read TIME's cover story "Hunting for Tuna: The Environmental Peril Grows."