US opens Atlantic sanctuary to commercial fishing, threatening endangered whales and sea turtles

Photo by Todd Cravens on Unsplash
Photo by Todd Cravens on Unsplash

President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he will open up a conservation area in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of New England to commercial fishing.

The move allows commercial fishing to resume in the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, a sanctuary created in the United States in 2016 during the Obama administration.

Environmental groups and some recreational fishermen warned that allowing commercial fishing in these areas undermines the protections established by the monument designations. It puts marine wildlife, including endangered whales and sea turtles, sharks, and fragile corals in danger of harm and entanglement in fishing nets.

Trump signed a proclamation on opening the area during a visit to Maine. He also announced he would create a task force to identify international markets for U.S. seafood.

The commercial seafood industry and regional fishery management councils have pressed the Trump administration to restore commercial fishing in federal waters closed off under monument protection.

Source: Reuters

The Animal Reader is an animal news organization. We need your help to create important news stories about animals. Read more about us here and, if you can, become a sponsor here.

Previous articleSouth Africa dehorns rhinos to prevent poaching
Next articleRare Hawksbill sea turtle lays eggs on tourist-free beach in Thailand

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here