Groups demand protection from longlines for sea turtles off Florida's west coast

A bridge made from illegal derelict longline gear collected inside "protected no fishing" marine waters of Cocos Island National Park, Costa Rica, demonstrates the strength of the lines and the amount in the sea.

From a media release posted on the Web site of the Caribbean Conservation Corporation:

SAN FRANCISCO — A coalition of conservation groups notified the federal government's National Marine Fisheries Service today of their intent to sue if the agency does not act immediately to protect imperiled sea turtles in the Gulf of Mexico. The groups' action comes after fisheries observer data revealed that the Gulf of Mexico bottom longline fishery, which targets reef fish like grouper and tilefish, resulted in the capture of nearly 1,000 threatened and endangered sea turtles between July 2006 and the end of 2007. 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.

Of particular concern for the groups are loggerhead sea turtles, which accounted for 799 of the 974 captured turtles in the government analysis. This is more than three times the number of loggerheads the Service authorized the fishery to take in 2005 and may well jeopardize the species. Loggerhead nesting populations in Florida have dropped by over 40 percent over the past 10 years. The large number of juvenile and reproductive adult turtles injured or killed by the bottom longline fishery is likely contributing to this steep decline.

“It's devastating to think about all the hard work and progress we've made safeguarding Florida's loggerheads and their nesting beaches being destroyed by this rampant level of take,” said David Godfrey, executive director of the Florida-based Caribbean Conservation Corporation. “We must stop and reassess the impacts of this fishery before it's too late.”

The Gulf of Mexico bottom longline fishery operates primarily off the west coast of Florida, an area that also provides key habitat for several sea turtle species, including loggerhead, Kemp's ridley, and green turtles. Bottom longline gear generally consists of a four- to 10-mile-long mainline made of steel cable or monofilament with up to 2,100 hooks. Sea turtles are caught on the lines when they attempt to eat the bait from hooks or become entangled when swimming near a line. Unable to surface for breath, they suffer injury or death.

Contacts for more information:
David Godfrey, Caribbean Conservation Corporation, (352) 373-6441
Andrea Treece, Center for Biological Diversity, (415) 436-9682 x 306
Sierra Weaver, Defenders of Wildlife, (202) 772-3274
Steve Roady, Earthjustice, (202) 667-4500
Cynthia Sarthou, Gulf Restoration Network, (504) 525-1528 x 202
Carole Allen, Turtle Island Restoration Network, (281) 444-6204

Photo credit: (c) Todd Steiner, Sea Turtle Restoration Project/Marine Photobank