Japan said Tuesday that China supports its opposition to a proposed ban on trade in Atlantic bluefin tuna, a fish prized in sushi.
At a meeting this week in Qatar, the 175-member Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or CITES, will vote on a proposal to list the species for protection. If the measure wins support from two-thirds of participating nations, trade of the fish would be banned.
The United States and several European countries have said they support the ban on international trade in the fish, which conservationists say risks extinction if current catch rates continue.
Japanese Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Hirotaka Akamatsu told reporters Tuesday that his country's prospects of blocking the ban remains tough. South Korea and Australia are also opposing a blanket ban, according to Japan's public television NHK.