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Loggerhead turtles recommended for endangered status listing

NOAA

MSNBC — The Obama administration on Wednesday recommended listing seven populations of loggerhead turtles as endangered — a decision that could have big implications for the fishing industry.

A leading turtle protection group called the move long overdue, citing recent population declines. "Overwhelming evidence points to accidental capture in fishing lines, hooks, nets and dredges as the main culprit in these declines," David Godfrey, director of the Caribbean Conservation Corporation, said in a statement.

The seven populations are already listed as threatened, but moving them to endangered could trigger additional protections and requirements on fishermen to reduce accidental catches.

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