Tuna off the menu at London restaurant Sushinho

London restaurant Sushinho has become the first sushi outlet in the capital to take tuna off its menu.

The restaurant on King’s Road in Chelsea has made the decision on the back of the EU’s recent decision to support a ban on international trade in Atlantic bluefin tuna until stocks recover.

Sushino argues that while yellowfin tuna is still much less overfished than its bluefin cousin, stocks are likely to suffer as a consequence of the bluefin fishing ban.

Oliver Girardet, owner of Sushinho, said: "With half of the fish eaten in Europe dished up in restaurants, it is time that restaurants take the lead and stopped demand at source. We owe it not only to this generation, but to generations to come."

He added that if global tuna stocks return to a healthy level or a sustainable and responsibly caught tuna, the restaurant would consider putting tuna back on the menu.

However, a spokeswoman for the Sea Fish Industry Authority (Seafish) told Caterersearch there was a large variety of tuna species with healthy stock levels including yellowfin and skip jack tuna.

“There are more than three million tonnes of tuna other than bluefin that are fished every year where stock levels are healthy,” she said.

Seafish Responsible Sourcing Guides >>

France agrees to back ban on bluefin tuna trade – but with 18-month delay >>

Celebrities campaign against Nobu’s bluefin tuna >>

Campaigners ask restaurateurs to fight for fish >>

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