Feds Sued Over Dolphin Deaths

The National Marine Fisheries Service is six months past its deadline to implement a plan to protect the false killer whales off of Hawaii shores from longline fishing. And Honolulu-based Earthjustice is suing.

Sophie Cocke reports on her Landblog:

According to a press release:

The move is aimed at ending the continuing slaughter of false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens, a large dolphin species) in the waters of Hawai‘i. Earthjustice is representing the Center for Biological Diversity and Turtle Island Restoration Network.

Earthjustice says longline fishing is killing the false killer whales at a higher rate than they can be sustained.

“These magnificent false killer whales don’t deserve a cruel death at the end of a longline hook, especially since common-sense solutions already exist to prevent serious injuries and drowning,” said Todd Steiner, biologist and executive director of the Turtle Island Restoration Network. “The ecological cost of longlining is mounting. In addition to imperiled false killer whales, the fishery kills critically endangered sea turtles, albatrosses and other seabirds.”

More information and a slideshow of hooked dolphins can be found here.

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