Conservation groups filed a lawsuit today to prevent sea turtles from drowning when they get caught in shrimp trawl nets in the Gulf of Mexico and southeast Atlantic.
Earthjustice filed the suit against the National Marine Fisheries Service on behalf of Defenders of Wildlife, the Center for Biological Diversity and Turtle Island Restoration Network. The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
The suit challenges a Trump administration rule on key protective gear called turtle excluder devices (TEDs) on shrimp boats. Turtle excluder devices have been required – and successfully used - on many fishing vessels for decades to help sea turtles escape when they get swept into shrimp trawler nets.
Groups Sue to Prevent Imperiled Sea Turtles From Drowning in Fishing Nets
Earthjustice filed the suit against the National Marine Fisheries Service on behalf of Defenders of Wildlife, the Center for Biological Diversity and Turtle Island Restoration Network. The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
The suit challenges a Trump administration rule on key protective gear called turtle excluder devices (TEDs) on shrimp boats. Turtle excluder devices have been required – and successfully used - on many fishing vessels for decades to help sea turtles escape when they get swept into shrimp trawler nets.
Groups Sue to Prevent Imperiled Sea Turtles From Drowning in Fishing Nets