Once again the fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico are under attack, this time over phantom sea turtle mortality rates.  Using figures that are at best questionable and most likely ridiculously and intentionally over-stated, a coalition of conservation groups is attempting to coerce the NMFS into shutting down bottom longlining in the Gulf of Mexico by threat of lawsuit.

These groups are well funded and determined to shut down this fishery, either for their own selfish reasons or just out of a misguided sense of a need to protect something from people who are not the threat.  This bears our immediate attention.  Please speak up, demand better science (as always) and don’t let special interest groups take away our livelihood by the use of false premise and outright lie.

The coalition asks that the commercial bottom longline fishery be suspended until the National Marine Fisheries Service meets its legal obligations under the Endangered Species Act to ensure that the fishery does not imperil sea turtles and other threatened species in the Gulf of Mexico.

“Allowing this fishery to continue to kill threatened and endangered turtles while the government studies the problem is irresponsible and illegal. It’s like refusing to turn off a leaking gas valve when you’re trying to put out a house fire. The law and the science are clear: These animals have to be protected right now,” said Andrea Treece, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity.

See full news release regarding this threat here or from the Fishery News links on the main S.O.F.A. menu.