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The European Union is reportedly preparing to back a temporary ban on bluefin tuna fishing which would see the suspension of catches around the world.

The AFP newsagency says that environment and fishing experts at the EU's executive arm, the European Commission, have reached an agreement to back a ban in the interests of preserving stocks.

As one of the most popular sushi staples, bluefin tuna has become increasingly in demand in recent years and its stocks have plummetted over the last decade.

UPDATE: Tuna boats in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean will be alowed to catch a total of 13,500 tonnes of bluefin tuna next year, down from the provisional quota of 19,950 tonnes. The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) says this gives the species a 60 per cent chance of recovering within 15 years, but environmental groups say it is not enough to save the bluefin from commercial extinction (from New Scientist).