Groups File Suit To Protect Critically Endangered Whales

Wildlife protection and ocean conservation groups yesterday sued the National Marine Fisheries Service for failing to protect three endangered whale species North Atlantic right whales, humpbacks, and fin whales -- from entanglement in commercial fishing gear. The complaint argues that the agency violated the Marine Mammal Protection Act by ignoring a congressionally imposed deadline to issue regulations to reduce whale entanglement and deaths. The complaint was filed in federal court here by The Humane Society of the United States and The Ocean Conservancy...