In the face of staggering declines, 'endangered species act' protection may be warranted for Pacific bluefin tuna, the National Marine Fisheries Service has said.

The announcement, in response to a petition from conservation groups earlier this year, means the agency will now conduct an in-depth status review of the species, according to the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD).

Under pressure from overfishing, bluefin tuna populations have reached dangerously low levels, declining more than 97% since fishing began, it said.

"Japan, South Korea, Mexico, the US and other countries have failed to reduce fishing enough to protect the iconic species, a luxury item on sushi menus."

“This is good news for bluefin tuna, which are headed for extinction without more protection" said Catherine Kilduff of the CBD.

"The endangered species act is a powerful tool for bringing vulnerable species back from the brink, and we hope the Fisheries Service gives these magnificent fish the help they need. We have to find ways to limit overfishing and protect important habitat or we may see the last Pacific bluefin tuna sold off and lost to extinction.”

In June 2016 petitioners requested that the Fisheries Service protect Pacific bluefin tuna as endangered. The coalition included the CBD, the Ocean Foundation, Earthjustice, Center for Food Safety, Defenders of Wildlife, Greenpeace, Mission Blue, Recirculating Farms Coalition, The Safina Center, SandyHook SeaLife Foundation, Sierra Club, Turtle Island Restoration Network and WildEarth Guardians, as well as sustainable-seafood purveyor Jim Chambers.

Almost all Pacific bluefin tuna harvested today are caught before reproducing, putting in doubt their future as a species, said CBD. Just a few adult age classes of Pacific bluefin tuna exist, and these will soon disappear due to old age.

Meetings of the international commissions that set catch levels for Pacific bluefin tuna have failed to result in the cuts necessary to put Pacific bluefin tuna on a path to recovery.

In mid-October the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission will meet again to discuss Pacific bluefin, and all signs point to the commission opting to maintain the status quo, which is insufficient to end overfishing, let alone promote a recovery to healthy levels, said CBD.

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