A controversial comeback for a highly prized tuna

SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine – An iconic species of tuna appears to be slowly recovering in the Atlantic Ocean, prompting fishermen to seek bigger commercial catch quotas and environmentalists to call for a more conservative approach.

The Atlantic bluefin tuna is one of the most recognizable fish in the Atlantic, and it’s prized by anglers and the sushi industry. The fish can weigh 1,000 pounds (454 kilograms) and is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

A spokesman for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says international regulators have decided to increase the catch quota for U.S. fishermen by nearly 400,000 pounds (181,439 kilograms) this year. He says conservative management appears to be helping the fish recover from years of overfishing.

Environmental groups fear increasing the quota could undo years of conservation work.