The land of sushi will cut its Pacific bluefin tuna haul by fifty percent.

Japan’s Fisheries Agency says from next year the country’s catch of Pacific bluefin weighing under thirty kilos will be halved from the average a decade ago.

Officials say the move is necessary to rebuild stocks after years of overfishing.

They say last year’s catch of mature bluefin hit a record low.

The agency hopes the new limit will produce a rebound in stocks of the fish.

Officials say they hope other countries will follow suit.

Japanese are the world’s biggest consumers of bluefin tuna, but officials don’t expect drastic price increases.

They say catches have already declined to near the target level.