June 11, 2007
Endangered Sea Turtles RECEIVE VITAL PROTECTION: Proposed Expansion
of Drift Gillnet Fishery Rejected
Contact:
Meghan Jeans, (415) 215-4981, mjeans@oceanconservancy.org
Dr. Wallace J. Nichols, (831) 426-0337, jnichols@oceanconservancy.org
San Francisco, CA — Responding to concerns by scientists and
conservation groups, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
affirmed protections for critically endangered leatherback sea
turtles in California waters. NMFS denied a proposed exempted fishing
permit application (EFP) that would have enabled the expansion of the
drift gillnet fishery into current conservation areas. Drift-gillnets
are mile and a half long nets that target swordfish, tuna and
thresher sharks. The drift-gillnet fishery has been subject to a
seasonal area closure to protect endangered leatherback sea turtles
that migrate along the Pacific coastline during the late summer and
fall. The closed area, known as the Pacific Leatherback Conservation
Area, encompasses approximately 180,000 square miles and extends from
just south of Monterey, California north to Salem, Oregon. Since its
implementation, the conservation area has successfully minimized
harmful interactions between sea turtles and fishermen.
Expansion of the drift-gillnet fishery would pose an additional
threat to the critically endangered leatherback sea turtle, already
under strains caused by egg poaching on its nesting beaches,
ingestion of plastics and entanglement in ocean debris. Estimated to
be 100 million years old, scientists now warn that this species could
go extinct in the Pacific in the next five to 30 years unless efforts
are made to reduce the threat of being injured or killed by
destructive fishing gear. Since 1984, the number of nesting female
Pacific leatherbacks declined by 95%.
“Leatherback turtles are one of the most beautiful and endangered
animals on our planet,” remarked Dr. Wallace J. Nichols, Senior
Scientist with Ocean Conservancy and President of the International
Sea Turtle Society, “and the emotion that compels us to save them is
the same one that will help us save ourselves--empathy. In this
case, science, economics and ethics combined to make the right
decision to protect sea turtles while they swim in California's
waters. But we still have our work cut out for us to bring them back
from the edge of extinction.”
Despite the success of the area closure, the Pacific Fishery
Management Council, under pressure from industry, voted last November
to approve the EFP and rollback these critical protections. The U.S.
Pacific is an important migratory route and foraging area for
leatherbacks and other marine wildlife killed by gillnets. Along
with sea turtles, drift-gillnets entangle and kill numerous protected
and endangered species including sperm whales, humpback whales, fin
whales, and sea lions. According to federal observer data, 64
dolphins, whales, seals and sea lions have been killed by the
California-Oregon drift gillnet fishery since 2002. What’s more, the
fishery has discarded more than half of its fish catch each year for
the past 15 years. Those discards include recreationally valuable
species, such as striped marlin and skipjack tuna.
Last week however NMFS notified the Council that they were denying
the EFP citing a recent scientific study which underscores the
importance of near shore waters off the U.S. west coast as critical
foraging habitat for migrating leatherback turtles. The study also
noted that gear modifications that have minimized harmful
interactions between drift gillnet gear and marine mammals, have not
proven successful at avoiding sea turtles.
“Too often political and economic considerations interfere with
important conservation goals,” observed Meghan Jeans, Pacific Fish
Conservation Manager with Ocean Conservancy. “Fortunately, federal
fishery managers did not bow to political pressure, and based their
decision to disapprove the EFP instead on the precautionary principle
and the best available science. We commend NMFS for taking this
crucial step towards putting leatherbacks on the path towards
recovery and we call upon fishery managers and others to seek ways to
fish more selectively and address all sources of turtle mortality.”
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Ocean Conservancy promotes healthy and diverse ocean ecosystems and
opposes practices that threaten ocean life and human life. Through
research, education, and science-based advocacy, Ocean Conservancy
informs, inspires, and empowers people to speak and act on behalf of
the oceans. In all its work, Ocean Conservancy strives to be the
world's foremost advocate for the oceans. www.oceanconservancy.org
