He ordered the fisheries agency to "consider the best available scientific evidence" in coming up with a new policy.

Each of the 23 coastal states, including Hawaii, has a marine fisheries agency.

Before fisheries agencies routinely collected data on landings and prices, he added, there was not a lot of information to go on.

The whaling chief at Japan's Fisheries Agency denied the allegation.

Japan's Fisheries Agency estimated 2,321 killer whales were in the seas around Japan.

However Moronuki was not fired, and is still working for Japan's Fisheries Agency.

They note that PacifiCorp's increased interest in the environment comes as recent rulings by judges and federal fisheries agencies have given new momentum for removal.

But under the new proposals, said Dr. Rosenberg, a former deputy director of the fisheries agency, "we could end up seriously overfishing some minor stocks."

"I have become more and more disappointed at the decisions taken here," said Mr. Saito, former secretary of Japan's fisheries agency.