Happy New Year from the Turtle Room !
Federal court stops longline fishing to protect turtles
Longline fishing will not be allowed off the California coast, after a federal district court suspended permits for the fishing method.
In December, the court struck down longline fishing permits that the National Marine Fisheries Service issued last spring, and ruled that the service didn’t properly analyse threats to critically endangered leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacae).
Longline fishing involves dragging lines stretching up to 60 miles behind vessels. Those lines often snare non-target catch, including marine mammals, sea turtles and unwanted fish.
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