Judge bans fishing in move to protect sea lions

Sea lions can be harmed by trawler fishing in their habitat, according to the U.S government

July 21, 2000
Web posted at: 12:16 PM EDT (1616 GMT)

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- Saying federal officials haven't done enough to protect Steller sea lions, a federal judge has banned trawl fishing in Alaska waters deemed critical habitat for the endangered mammals.

U.S. District Judge Thomas Zilly of Seattle ruled Thursday that trawling for pollock, cod and other fish poses a "reasonably certain threat of imminent harm" to the sea lions.

The ban takes effect Aug. 8.

"This is a very good day for Steller sea lions," said Janis Searles, an attorney with the Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund, which represented plaintiffs Greenpeace USA, American Oceans Campaign and Sierra Club in their lawsuit against the National Marine Fisheries Service.

	MESSAGE BOARD
Animal world

Steller sea lion numbers in the region have dropped more than 80 percent in the past 35 years, from an estimated 230,000 animals in 1965 to 34,000 today.

Zilly agreed with the environmental groups that groundfishing may be harming sea lions by reducing their food supply and disrupting their foraging patterns. But he also said the efforts of the fisheries service haven't stopped the slide.

The trawling ban could cost the fishing industry about $100 million for the rest of this year, and more than $175 million in the first half of 2001, according to the At-Sea Processors Association, which represents catcher-processor vessels.

Beth Stewart, natural resources director for the Aleutians East Borough, said her area would be badly hurt if the ban stands.

There would be a loss in taxes and smaller boats, accustomed to fishing in critical habitat areas near shore, would have to go farther out to sea to fish, raising operating costs.

The Commerce Department, which oversees the fisheries service, said the need to protect endangered sea lions is real, but so is the need to protect people.

"We're concerned that this injunction will have a severe impact on Alaska coastal communities," said Robert Mallett, acting commerce secretary. "The impacts will be greatest on fishermen using smaller vessels, in particular Alaska Native fishermen."

Copyright 2000 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Namibia to cull 67,000 Cape fur seals
July 20, 2000
Aleutian otters take a nosedive
July 6, 2000
Thin ice limits Quebec's seal hunt
March 30, 2000
Sea lion deaths leave scientists swimming
March 3, 2000

Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund
Greenpeace International
American Oceans Campaign
Sierra Club
NOAA Fisheries
   •NOAA site on seals
At Sea Processors Association
U.S. Department of Commerce

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.