TOKYO >> Japan is facing a dilemma after it was disclosed that the nation’s bluefin tuna catches topped the annual limit set under an international accord on resource conservation — evidence of its poor management of marine resources.

Observers are calling the violation of the regulation by Japan, the world’s largest tuna consumer, a serious breach of conduct. It will likely result in growing calls from Europe, the United States and other countries for Japan to improve its resource management of Pacific bluefin tuna, which are popular as sushi.

At the Pacific Bluefin Tuna International Stakeholders Meeting in late April in Tokyo, member countries discussed restrictions on bluefin tuna fishing.

Japan’s annual catches of small Pacific bluefin tuna weighing less than 66 pounds will likely exceed the ceiling set for the period from July 2016 through June this year, a senior official of the Fisheries Agency said at the meeting. The ceiling for Japan’s annual catches of bluefin tuna is set at 4,007 tons.

On April 27, Japanese fishermen’s catch of bluefin tuna reached 4,008 tons, topping the annual ceiling for the first time since the restriction was introduced.

“We take this matter seriously,” the official said. “We’ll analyze the cause of the problem and take various preventive measures.”

It was unusual for a participating nation to apologize at a meeting attended by the fishing authorities of foreign countries.

The Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPFC) will hold a meeting in August in which member countries will negotiate new fishing restrictions. Japan is a member of WCPFC.

Some Fisheries Agency officials are increasingly concerned about the negotiations. “Japan topped the limit, which will affect the negotiations,” a senior official of the agency said.

Japan has been trying to aid the recovery of marine resources while refraining from imposing excessive restrictions such as a fishing ban, and is trying to minimize the impact of restrictions on fishermen and consumers. Now that Japan’s Pacific bluefin tuna catches have surpassed the upper limit, however, it is unclear whether it will be able to secure understanding from other countries for such an approach.

The Fisheries Agency plans to impose penalties for ignoring catch limits on the threatened fish from 2018 as part of efforts to seek understanding from the international community.

Fishermen who ignore an order to stop tuna fishing would face up to three years of imprisonment or a fine of up to $17,800.

However, the current annual limit system adopts a “first come, first served” approach that gives an advantage to those who fish earlier and catch a large volume of tuna. In addition, the restriction would be ineffective even with the introduction of penalties unless the amount of catches is accurately recorded.

“Japan failed to even observe the catch quota, which other countries called lenient,” said Toshio Katsukawa, associate professor at Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology. “As a result, it’s now difficult for Japan to object to moves to strengthen restrictions. Japan needs to review its system for having fishermen observe regulations.”