MIAMI (AP) — Activists sued the federal government Thursday to release images of dead orca whales, sea lions and other marine mammals entangled by commercial fishing boats off the U.S. West Coast.
The complaints were filed after the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration failed to fulfill multiple Freedom of Information Act requests filed by Oceana, a Washington-based conservation group, as part of its campaign to raise public awareness about the harmful effects of trawl fishing in federally managed waters.
”People have the right to know how commercial fisheries impact marine wildlife," Tara Brock, Oceana’s Pacific legal director, said in a statement.
The lawsuits were filed Thursday in federal courts in Alaska and California by attorneys from San Francisco-based Earthjustice on behalf of Oceana.
At the heart of the legal challenge is NOAA's sometimes conflicting dual mandate: to promote fishing to its maximum sustainable level while also enforcing laws to protect marine mammals.
Oceana has long campaigned for tighter controls of trawl fishing. The group considers it one of the least sustainable fishing methods, in which large boats drag enormous nets on or near the ocean floor, collecting huge amounts of unintentional bycatch.
The lawsuit cites high and sometimes rising levels of animal entanglements in U.S. waters. During one four-month period alone last year, 10 orca whales were entangled in the Bering Sea off Alaska, according to NOAA data. All but one were dead.
Oceana, starting in 2021, submitted requests for public records to seek photos and video records of the mortalities taken by taxpayer-funded observers placed on vessels to assure compliance with federal conservation mandates.
NOAA refused to provide any of the records of marine mammal bycatch from the halibut fishery off California. In the case of Alaska, it released a few unredacted images but the majority were heavily redacted and pixelated, some to the point that it is impossible to identify the animal shown, Oceana said.
A spokesperson for NOAA said the agency can't comment on litigation.
But in the lawsuit Oceana states it was told by NOAA the release of unredacted images would violate provisions of the Magnuson Stevens Act, the main legislation regulating fisheries, requiring it to protect the identities of specific vessels and businesses.
Oceana, in the lawsuit, argues that the Magnuson Stevens Act “is built on the principle that the public must be able to participate meaningfully in fisheries management" and that NOAA's denial of its records request unlawfully squashes scrutiny of commercial fishing practices.
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This combo image made with photos released by National Marine Fisheries Service purport to show marine mammals — clockwise from top left: a humpback whale, orca, walrus and Stellar sea lion — killed in U.S. trawl fisheries. The photos have been heavily altered to obscure their content, and on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, activists sued the federal government to release the unaltered images. (National Marine Fisheries Service via AP)
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Santi Aldama had 21 points and 14 rebounds, and the Memphis Grizzlies set a franchise record with 27 3-pointers in a 144-93 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night, the biggest win in the NBA this season.
Stephen Curry was held without a field goal and finished with two points for the Warriors, who took their worst loss since falling 140-88 at Boston on March 3 last season. Newly acquired point guard Dennis Schroder started alongside Curry and struggled in his Warriors debut, scoring five points on 2-of-12 shooting.
Jake LaRavia scored 19 points and Jaren Jackson Jr. added 17 for the Grizzlies, who have won 11 of 13. Aldama and Luke Kennard (15 points) each made five 3s.
Brandin Podziemski finished with 21 points and Andrew Wiggins had 19 for the Warriors, who have lost eight of 10.
Warriors: Schroder and Curry shot a combined 2 of 19, missing all 10 3-pointers. Curry was 0 for 6 from beyond the arc and 0 for 7 overall. He made his only two free throws.
Grizzlies: Their previous record for 3s was 25 against Houston in 2023.
Curry's only highlight was a steal that gave him 1,500 for his career. He is one of five players with 24,000 points, 6,000 assists and 1,500 steals. The others are LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden.
In the first half, Memphis shot 51% from the field and 12 of 25 on 3s, while the Warriors shot 23% overall and 7 of 24 on 3s. That led to a 69-38 lead for Memphis at halftime. The Grizzlies finished 27 of 48 (56.3%) beyond the arc.
Warriors: At Minnesota on Saturday night.
Grizzlies: At Atlanta on Saturday night.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Memphis Grizzlies guard Luke Kennard (10) drives against Golden State Warriors forward Lindy Waters III (43) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
The scoreboard displays the Memphis Grizzlies leading the Golden State Warriors in the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski (2) strips the ball from Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey, center right, in the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Golden State Warriors guard Buddy Hield, right, handles the ball against Memphis Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr. (1) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, right, shoots ahead of Memphis Grizzlies forward Santi Aldama, left, in the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, right, talks to referee Brett Nansel (44) in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Golden State Warriors forward Kyle Anderson (1) knocks the ball away from Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (14) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaylen Wells (0) shoots against the Golden State Warriors in the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) drives against Memphis Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr., right, in the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (14) reacts in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
