HARKERS ISLAND, N.C. — March 7, 2014 — Two fisheries associations want a sea turtle stock assessment, as well as observation and interaction reporting requirements for both commercial and recreational fishermen, from the National Marine Fisheries Service, and they are willing to go to court to get them.
This suit, if it goes forward, would be for federal and state agencies failing to enforce the Endangered Species Act as written for protected sea turtles.
Stevenson Weeks of Beaufort, attorney for the N.C. Fisheries Association and the Carteret County Fisherman’s Association, announced Thursday at a presentation to journalists with the Institute for Journalism and Natural Resources at Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Center that he and Wesley C. Cooper, another attorney working with him, sent the NMFS Wednesday a 60-day notice of intent to file a civil action.
Notice was also sent to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Department of the Interior, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.
“Commercial fishermen would love to see the turtle recover and to see restrictions eased,” Mr. Weeks said. “The fishermen are reporting more turtles every year. We want a stock assessment, but in the meantime, we want a little equality. We think all user groups should do their part to help the recovery, not just the commercial fishermen.”
Patricia Smith, DMF public information officer, confirmed this morning the division has received the notice.
“We’re discussing it with DENR and our legal council,” she said. DMF had no further comment. News-Times contacted the NMFS for a response, but the service wasn’t able to respond by presstime.
Read the full story at the Carteret County News-Times