P.M. BRIEFING : Fishermen May Temporarily Forgo Turtle Protectors’ Use, Judge Says
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WASHINGTON — A federal judge today allowed Gulf Coast shrimp fishermen to temporarily forgo the use of devices attached to their nets that protect turtles.
But U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Hogan said the federal government must adequately explain why it abruptly suspended regulations requiring use of the turtle excluder devices.
“It remains to be seen” how Commerce Secretary Robert Mosbacher “will justify the sudden shift away from” the devices and the substitution of a requirement that shrimpers pull up their nets every 105 minutes to let turtles escape, Hogan said in a 17-page opinion.
Mosbacher issued the 105-minute interim requirement on Aug. 8. It expires Sept. 8.
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