Juvenile fish were caught and not returned to the sea and many were dead by the time they were pulled on board the boats. This fishery promised a way of quick riches and the stock seemed to be large, fisherman had no incentive to conserve the stock. Even after the numbers fell, no single fisherman could help the fishery because his actions had little impact on overall fishing pressure. Unrelenting fishing pressure augmented by new technology to supply the Japanese market has been fatal for the bluefin. Even as stocks fall, however, there has been little consensus on what to do to save the species.
Fishermen are naturally reluctant to unilaterally cut their harvests.
Many are dependent on the bluefin for their economic livelihoods. Their families live off the income the fish bring in and their boat and equipment loans are paid for from bluefin sales. Each fisherman knows that his catch has little impact on the stock. It is the aggregate harvest that is killing the bluefin. Fishermen want their competitors restrained, not them, however, there are many competitors, local and foreign fishermen, sports and commercial fishermen.