Ocean Sentry
Hawai”i”s unique population of false killer whales is one step closer to gaining new protection as an endangered or threatened species alongside humpback whales, monk seals and several types of sea turtles.
Such a listing could bring greater restrictions for Hawai”i”s longline and nearshore fisheries, which are blamed by environmentalists for hooking and entangling the up-to-20-foot, 1,500-pound mammals. A listing as endangered for false killer whales, which are part of the dolphin family, would bring a “critical habitat” review and other recovery steps. The federal government’s National Marine Fisheries Service this week said a petition to list Hawai’i’s false killer whales as endangered “presents substantial scientific or commercial information” that such action may be warranted…. Read Full Article by William Cole
