Overfishing fears cast aside as sushi boss pays $118,000 for single bluefin tuna

Sale of 200kg fish to restaurant in Japan comes despite campaigners' warnings that species is heading for extinction

A sushi restaurant in Japan has paid US$118,000 (80,000/AU$164,000) for a bluefin tuna at the first auction of the year at Tokyo's Tsukiji market, despite repeated warnings that the prized fish is heading towards extinction.

Kiyoshi Kimura, president of the firm that runs the Sushi Zanmai restaurant chain, said he was "glad" to have outbid rivals in the last new year auction to be held at the 80-year-old market before it completes a troubled move to new premises later this year.