NMFS, Industry Win Court Case on Aleutian Steller Sea Lions
SEAFOODNEWS.COM By Peggy Parker - August 28, 2015
Judge Timothy Burgess of the U.S. District Court in Anchorage, ruled Tuesday in favor of National Marine Fisheries Service’s 2014 analyses that supported loosening certain restrictions to fishing in the Aleutian Islands. Those restrictions were part of a sweeping management decision implemented five years ago, aimed at protecting a sub-population of Steller sea lions in the western Aleutians.
At issue is whether the groundfish industry in certain areas of the Aleutians impact the available food for a distinct group of Steller sea lions whose population is not recovering.
The suit was brought against NMFS by Greenpeace and Oceana who claimed the 2014 Biological Opinion and Enviromental Impact Statement was arbitrary and capricious. Joining NMFS as co-defendants and intervenors were Alaska Seafood Cooperative, Adak Community Development Corporation, Aleut Corporation, and the Groundfish Forum.
In the court’s ruling, Burgess acknowledged...
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