Activists Sue for Release of Images Showing Orcas, Marine Mammals Entangled in Fishing Gear
Activists sue to Force Release of Images Showing Fishing’s Deadly Toll on Marine Mammals
MIAMI – A conservation group is suing the federal government to make public images of dead orca whales, sea lions, and other marine mammals entangled in commercial fishing gear off the U.S. west Coast.
The lawsuit, filed Thursday by Oceana, a Washington-based advocacy group, comes after the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) repeatedly denied Freedom of Information Act requests for the photos and videos. Oceana argues that the public has a right to see the devastating impact of commercial fishing on marine life.
“People have the right to know how commercial fisheries impact marine wildlife,” said Tara Brock, Oceana’s Pacific legal director.
The legal battle highlights NOAA’s complex dual mandate: promoting fishing while also protecting marine mammals. Oceana has long criticized trawl fishing, a method that involves dragging massive nets along the ocean floor, as one of the least enduring fishing practices due to its high levels of unintentional bycatch.
The lawsuit cites alarming statistics, including a four-month period last year when 10 orca whales were entangled in the Bering Sea off Alaska, with only one surviving.
Oceana initially requested photos and videos taken by taxpayer-funded observers placed on fishing vessels to ensure compliance with federal conservation laws. NOAA refused to release any records from the California halibut fishery and heavily redacted most images from Alaska, making it tough to identify the animals depicted.
NOAA declined to comment on the ongoing litigation. However, Oceana claims the agency cited provisions of the Magnuson Stevens Act, the primary law governing fisheries, as justification for withholding the unredacted images. The act requires NOAA to protect the identities of specific vessels and businesses.Oceana argues that the Magnuson Stevens Act emphasizes public participation in fisheries management and that NOAA’s refusal to release the records unlawfully obstructs scrutiny of commercial fishing practices.This story was supported by funding from the Walton Family Foundation and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Unseen Toll: Conservationists Fight to Expose Fishing’s Impact on Marine Mammals
Miami, FL – A battle is brewing over the transparency of commercial fishing practices and their impact on marine life. Oceana, a Washington-based conservation group, is suing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to compel the release of images and videos depicting marine mammals entangled in fishing gear off the U.S. West Coast.
The lawsuit, filed Thursday, stems from repeated denials by NOAA to Freedom of Details Act requests submitted by Oceana.
“People have the right to know how commercial fisheries impact marine wildlife,” stated Tara Brock, oceana’s Pacific legal director.
The group argues that the public deserves access to this information to understand the true cost of certain fishing practices.
Oceana’s lawsuit highlights the devastating statistics surrounding bycatch,the unintentional capture of non-target species. citing a four-month period last year,the group revealed that ten orca whales were entangled in fishing gear in the Bering Sea off Alaska,with only one surviving.
At the heart of the legal battle lies NOAA’s dual mandate: promoting fishing while protecting marine mammals.Oceana has consistently criticized trawling, a method that involves dragging massive nets across the ocean floor, as particularly harmful due to its high bycatch rates.
Initially, Oceana requested photos and videos from taxpayer-funded observers stationed on fishing vessels to monitor compliance with conservation laws. While NOAA did provide some records, they were heavily redacted, particularly those from the California halibut fishery, making it difficult to identify the animals involved.
NOAA declined to comment on the ongoing litigation, but Oceana claims the agency cited provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the primary law governing fisheries, as justification for withholding the unredacted images.
Oceana counters that the Magnuson-Stevens Act prioritizes public participation in fisheries management and that NOAA’s withholding of the records obstructs this crucial aspect.
This story was supported by funding from the Walton Family Foundation and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group.The AP is solely responsible for all content.