Tokyo -- Japan says it is teaming with China, Taiwan and South Korea in an effort to replenish dwindling tuna stocks in the Pacific Ocean.

Tuna stocks have fallen dramatically as demand for the fish from health-conscious consumers eating sushi and sashimi has soared, and now Japanese officials say they're instituting a suspension of some fishing operations to help restore their numbers, the BBC reported Saturday.

The move will idle about 230 Japanese vessels, which is expected to cut Japan's tuna catch by 5 percent. Through a regional cooperative, the three other biggest Asian tuna fishing nations will also cut back on their takes to help the Yellowfin and Bigeye repopulate.

"It is significant that major (fishing) organizations in three countries and a region -- Japan, China, South Korea and Taiwan -- coordinate with an eye to restoring resources," a cooperative official told the Kyodo news agency.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.