What you order now at your local sushi/sashimi spot just might make a difference in the survival of a species of fish—the blue fin tuna. Many of us enjoy the fish as a part of the meals we enjoy at sushi bars and restaurants. We order it devotedly in our favorite sushi dish or as sashimi to finish off the meal. However, the rage for this tuna, which is fueled by the popularity of the popular Japanese method of serving raw fish, known as sushi and sashimi, is now threatening the very existence of the fish. In fact, it may even result in wiping out one of the Mediterranean’s most emblematic residents: the blue fin tuna.

Experts say too many of these majestic fish are ending up on the plates of restaurants around the globe, but especially in Japan, China and the United States.

Japanese consumption is already a threat to blue fin tuna in the Mediterranean and now the growing market in China, along with the European craze for sushi bars, has added to the demise of the fish.

More than 50,000 tons of blue fin tuna are caught every year in the Mediterranean. To prevent stocks from collapsing, that figure should be limited to 15,000 tons in the short term, according to ICCAT. So the next time you’re at your favorite sushi restaurant, think twice before ordering! You can still enjoy a satisfying meal by choosing from one of the many other selections on the menu, and you might just help save a species in the process!

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