Canberra - Australia is confident it can work with Japan to deal with the problem of overfishing, particularly in the tuna market.

Last week's decision to cut the global quota of southern bluefin tuna by 20 percent has angered Australian fisherman, who say Japan has been overfishing.

Australia has to slash its intake by 25 percent, while Japan has to cut its catch by 20 percent to help protect the species.

Federal Trade Minister Simon Crean, who is in Japan for trade discussions with the new Yukio Hatoyama government, says Japan has been "a big culprit" for overfishing.

"(And) What we have to do is to make sure that that overfishing problem doesn't continue," he told ABC radio.

The former Taro Aso conservative government "did hardly anything to stop the overfishing", he said.

"What I'm confident about is a preparedness by this new government to engage intensively and quickly with the Australian government."

- AAP