Lawsuit notice filed for killer whales killed in Alaska

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - After nine Killer Whales were found dead from being incidentally captured by trawl net operations in Alaska, the Center for Biological Diversity has filed a notice of intent to sue the National Marine Fisheries Service.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that ten killer whales had been incidentally caught by fishing trawl operations in the Bering Sea and around the Aleutian Islands in Sept.

Nine of those ten whales died as a result of their capture.

According to the notice, the National Marine Fisheries Service or “NMFS” is aware that these incidental captures kill a variety of non-target species, many of which are protected under the Endangered Species Act.

The lawsuit is being filed because the Center for Biological Diversity believes “NMFS” has failed to take actions required by multiple conservation acts including the Endangered Species Act, and Marine Mammal Protection Act.