Despite measures taken since 2018 through the Total Allowable Catch system of the Pacific Saury, the fish stock remains low

In 2021, the Pacific Saury TAC was set to reduce the catch limit by 40% from their respective catch record in 2018 as one of the conservation and management measures for 2021-2022. This decision was made due to the deterioration of the stock status so it was recognised by the members that a reduction of the TAC was a step forward to strengthen conservation and management measures of Pacific Saury.
It is presumed that the distribution area and the migration route of Pacific Saury have shifted eastward farther from the Japanese coast due to environmental changes. It also pointed out as a hypothesis that, with the shift of distribution, the spawning ground may have shifted eastward as well, where feeding environment is less favourable and this could have resulted in the lower survival rate of juvenile fish.