Conservation groups are suing the National Marine Fisheries Service over a new rule that increases the amount of Big-Eye Tuna (Ahi) that can be legally caught. The lawsuit says that a ruling issued on October 28th, nearly doubles the amount of tuna that can be caught in the central and western pacific. Earth Justice and 3 other groups say the regulation undermines efforts to curb over fishing.
Davin Henkin is a lawyer representing the conservation groups. He says that quotas were fabricated to create a loophole for fisheries in the south pacific that don’t exist. The extra allotment is then passed to Hawaiian fleets, allowing them to increase the size of their catch.
Henken calls the practice an irresponsible way to manage a limited resource.