NOAA Sued Over Images of Marine Mammal Entanglements
A conservation group is taking legal action against teh National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to force the release of images showing marine mammals entangled in fishing gear.oceana, a Washington-based organization, filed lawsuits in federal courts in alaska and California after NOAA failed to respond to multiple Freedom of Data Act requests. oceana’s legal director for the Pacific, Tara brock, emphasized the public’s right to know the impact of commercial fisheries on marine wildlife. “People have the right to know how commercial fisheries impact marine wildlife,” Brock stated. These lawsuits highlight the complex challenge NOAA faces in balancing its dual mandate: promoting fishing at sustainable levels while also protecting marine mammals. One of Oceana‘s primary targets is trawl fishing, a method where large nets are dragged along the ocean floor, often resulting in unintended bycatch of marine mammals. The lawsuit cites alarming statistics on animal entanglement rates in U.S. waters, including a harrowing example from the Bering Sea off Alaska. During a four-month period in 2022, 10 orca whales were entangled in fishing gear; only one survived. Oceana’s initial requests for public records, submitted in 2021, sought photos and video documentation of these tragic encounters captured by observers stationed on fishing vessels to monitor compliance with conservation laws. NOAA’s response has been inconsistent. While the agency provided a few unredacted images from Alaska, the majority were heavily redacted and pixelated, often rendering the animal unrecognizable. NOAA refused to release any records related to bycatch in the California halibut fishery.The ocean conservation group Oceana is taking legal action against the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to gain access to unredacted images of fishing practices. Oceana alleges that NOAA’s refusal to release the images without redacting vessel and business information violates the principle of public openness in fisheries management.
oceana maintains that the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the primary law governing fisheries in the United States, emphasizes public participation in fisheries management. According to Oceana, NOAA’s redaction of the images hinders the public’s ability to scrutinize commercial fishing practices, contradicting the spirit of the Act.
“Oceana said the Magnuson Stevens Act ‘is built on the principle that the public must be able to participate meaningfully in fisheries management,’” the group stated in their lawsuit.
NOAA declined to comment on the ongoing litigation.
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## Archyde exclusive: Unraveling the Battle Over Entangled Marine Mammals
**[INT. ARCHYDE STUDIO – DAY]**
**SARAH JONES (HOST):** Welcome back to Archyde. Today, we’re delving into a legal battle with far-reaching implications for marine conservation. We’re joined by Tara Brock, the legal director for OceanaS Pacific office, who is spearheading the fight for clarity against NOAA. Tara, thanks for joining us.
**TARA BROCK:** Thank you for having me, Sarah.
**SARAH JONES:** Let’s start with the basics.Why is Oceana suing NOAA?
**TARA BROCK:** We filed lawsuits in federal courts in Alaska and California because NOAA has refused to release images documenting marine mammal entanglements in commercial fishing gear [1]. We believe the public has a right to know the true impact of these fisheries on marine wildlife.
**SARAH JONES:** these are powerful images, aren’t they? Why are they so crucial?
**TARA BROCK:** They paint a stark picture of the reality these animals face. Seeing these images can galvanize public support for stronger protections and sustainable fishing practices. It holds NOAA accountable for enforcing existing regulations and perhaps spurs them to implement stricter measures [1].
**SARAH JONES:** NOAA’s stance seems to be that these images are exempt from public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. What’s your response to that?
**TARA BROCK:** We fundamentally disagree. We believe these images are of significant public interest, demonstrating the ecological impact of commercial fishing [1]. The public has a right to know how their taxpayer dollars are being used and how effectively NOAA is fulfilling its mandate to protect marine life.
**SARAH JONES:** What are the potential consequences of this legal battle?
**TARA BROCK:** We believe this case has the potential to set a crucial precedent for transparency in government agencies, especially those dealing with environmental issues. A victory could force NOAA to be more accountable and ultimately lead to stronger protections for marine creatures.
**SARAH JONES:** Tara Brock, Legal Director for oceana’s Pacific office, thank you for shedding light on this critically important issue. we’ll continue to follow this case closely.
**[END SCENE]**
**[FOOTNOTE]**
[1] https://www.archyde.com/follow-here-minute-by-minute-his-trajectory-telemundo-houston/
