Conservation Groups Sue to protect Endangered Whitetip Sharks

​worldanimalnews.com/conservation-groups-file-a-lawsuit-in-hawaii-to-protect-threatened-oceanic-whitetip-sharks/

Conservation groups in Hawaii have filed a lawsuit against the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA) for failing to adequately study the whitetip shark population along the coast. In the lawsuit, the groups represented by Earthjustice, claim that the Fisheries Service has continued to allow Pacific longline fishing fleets to operate off the coast despite being required to properly study the whitetip shark population. Whitetip sharks were listed as Endangered in 2018 and it is reported that their population has declined anywhere from 80 - 95% since the late 1990's.

Overfishing is notoriously destroying oceanic ecosystems across our planet and this is the perfect example of that destruction. Fishing fleets use hook filled lines that stretch anywhere from 28 - 52 miles in order to catch intended fish like Tuna for example. The problem is that whitetip sharks are inadvertently caught after being baited by the hooks where they suffer tremendously until they either die or are released. Unfortunately, even those released can suffer psychological & physical turmoil which can often lead to death. These fleets are killing thousands of whitetip sharks along with other unintended targets like sea birds, sea turtles, and other marine animals.

Back in 2018, the NOAA listed fishing as the biggest threat to the survival of the whitetip sharks and shockingly, they've continued to permit fishing fleets without adequately surveying the whitetip population. The NOAA is dragging its feet, procrastinating, and continuing to allow further endangerment to whitetip sharks instead of doing its job and ensuring a future for whitetips. This is an alarming trend with these organizations. As you all know, I report regularly on the failures of the US Fish & Wildlife Services over their continued failure in properly addressing issues that are causing further endangerment to species in peril. These agencies are so slow moving and often need to be sued in order to light a fire under their arses to get anything done. It's ridiculous that the only way to get results is to sue an organization that is supposed to have our planet's best interests at heart.

The story of the whitetip sharks is further proof that our planet needs advocacy and continued pressure on these organizations. If we were to leave everything up to them, our planet's most imperiled species would undoubtedly go extinct at the rate that things are currently going. The NOAA must address whitetip shark populations before their inaction causes the extinction of a once abundant species. 

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HAPPY VEG