MEXICO CITY (AP) — The Mexican government has largely abandoned protection and enforcement measures for loggerhead sea turtles, leading to a spike in the number of turtles being caught up and killed in fishing nets, according to a report released Monday.
The findings were announced by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation, which functions as part of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement.
While the commission does not have any powers to enforce its findings, the U.S. government can demand that Mexico comply and could impose import bans on Mexican seafood if it concludes that Mexico isn’t enforcing protections.
Since 2019, by-catch quotas have been basically eliminated in Mexico, and inspections have plummeted.
“We’ve lost thousands of imperiled loggerhead sea turtles because Mexico has done almost nothing to protect them,” said Alejandro Olivera, a senior scientist and Mexico representative at the Center for Biological Diversity. “I’m glad the international community is finally holding the Mexican government accountable.”
Yangtze River Delta put into focus
Nearly half of the world’s migratory species are in decline, UN report says
Benefit sanctions to ramp up with 'work check
Norwegians facing a shortage as Easter nears are hoarding eggs from neighboring Sweden
In many African countries, abortions are legal. But information and access can be hard to come by
Walgreens books hefty charge as the drugstore chain adjusts the value of struggling clinics
Funding shortfall halts Taranaki Cathedral project
The remains of a WWII pilot from Michigan are identified 8 decades after a fatal bombing mission
Mixed reaction to Three Waters repeal by end of next week
The culinary game at MLB ballparks has exploded in the past 20 years. Eating healthy is a challenge
Uyghur activist receives Roosevelt freedom of worship award — Radio Free Asia