Bluefin Tuna Sushi

Bluefin tuna sushi is the most controversial luxury seafood on the market. A single bluefin sold for $3.1 million at Tokyo's Tsukiji market in 2019, yet the species is critically endangered: Atlantic bluefin populations have declined by over 80% since the 1970s. This controversy directly pits conservation against cultural tradition, and it outperforms #10 in its global impact on biodiversity. International fishing quotas are widely criticized as too little, too late, failing to curb demand driven by prestige economics in Japanese fish auctions. The species may not survive the century unless decisive action is taken.