Fishery council calls for action to save sea turtles - al.com

Fishery council calls for action to save sea turtles - al.com: "Gulf of Mexico fishery regulators Thursday recommended closing an area off the west coast of Florida to commercial longline fishing in an emergency effort to protect sea turtles.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council decided 10-7 to ask the National Marine Fisheries Service to prohibit longline fishing in eastern Gulf waters of depths less than 50 fathoms or 300 feet. The longline industry, primarily based on Florida's west coast, hunts mostly grouper and tilefish using miles-long lines with multiple baited hooks.

Longline fishing activity occurs in the same waters where sea turtles forage for squid, crabs and other marine animals. The sea turtles, attracted to the bait, can get caught on the hooks and drown."