News - National
Govt. investigates shrimpers in Gulf turtle deaths
Posted: May 5, 2010 10:55 AM by Associated Press
A federal fisheries official says the government is investigating whether aggressive shrimp boats are causing turtle deaths in the Gulf of Mexico.
Sheryan Epperly, sea turtle team leader for the National Marine Fisheries Service, said Wednesday that officials are looking into whether some of the boats have removed devices from their nets meant to keep turtles out of their catch.
Wildlife officials say at least 35 endangered sea turtles have washed up on Gulf coast beaches, but it's not clear what's killing them.
They say necropsies of the turtles so far have shown no signs of oil.
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