Report: Longlines Kill Sea Turtles - Oceana USA
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October 27, 2008

Report: Longlines Kill Sea Turtles

The St. Petersburg Times reports that longlines are catching endangered loggerhead sea turtles at an alarming rate.Dave Allison, senior campaign director for our sea turtle campaign, is quoted in the article: “The newly available observer data from the fleet reveals that virtually one out of every two longline sets has at least one loggerhead sea turtle take, and furthermore, the mortality level of these takes may be equal to or greater than 50 percent,” Allison wrote in a letter dated Oct. 13. “The estimated longline takes are nearly 8 times the level authorized.”Our campaign is working to put a stop to sea turtle bycatch as a result of these longlines, as well as trawls, dredges, and gillnets.