The request to join the conservation project initiated by the Japanese Tuna fleet owners came in a letter, dated 13 October 1999 to Mitsubishi Corporation President Mikio Sasaki from Eugene Lapointe, president of IWMC World Conservation Trust and the former head of the United Nations’ operations dealing with trade in threatened and endangered species.

“In view of Mitsubishi Corporation’s position as Japan’s largest purchaser of tuna, their leadership in reducing fishing pressure on tuna by ‘flags of convenience’ fleets for the welfare of the tuna resource and Japan’s traditional relationship with the oceans’ bounty is only natural,” said Lapointe.
This year the Japanese tuna fleet owners voluntarily reduced their fleet by 132 vessels (or 20 percent).  Agreements with Korean and Taiwan tuna fishing concerns will see further fishing boat reductions in those nation’s tuna fleets over the next two years.  Currently, 240 tuna fishing vessels sail under “flags of convenience” to avoid the regulatory conservation strictures imposed by governments such as Japan. 

“Mitsubishi Corporation’s cooperation, support and leadership in this effort is important,” said Lapointe.  “A partnership by all those enterprises concerned with fisheries and the environment, is vital to help tuna stocks and to demonstrate to the world the legacy of sustainable conservation".�