The Sea Turtle Restoration Project has submitted a joint comment letter signed by 25+ organizations--a broad coalition of marine mammal scientists, environmental, animal rights, and commercial fishing organizations--demanding an immediate end to illegal imports of swordfish.  See the organizational letter. The U.S. can save thousands of whales, dolphins, seals and other wildlife if they pressure foreign nations to clean up their dirty fisheries by simply enforcing the Marine Mammal Protection Act.  

Click here for a 2-page fact sheet on the Marine Mammal Protection Act and its restrictions on seafood imports.   The Marine Mammal Protection Act requires any country wishing to import fish products into the United States to provide proof that the country’s fishing practices do not harm or kill marine mammals in excess of U.S. standards.

The U.S. government is considering banning the imports of foreign swordfish until exporting countries can provide proof that their fishing practices are equally protective of whales, dolphins, and sea lions as methods used by U.S. fishermen. 

Click here to see our 30-page petition to the Secretary of Commerce.

How does saving marine mammals help sea turtles?  The same longlines and drift gillnets that kill tens of thousands of marine mammals also catch thousand of sea turtles.  Barring foreign fishermen from the U.S. market protects both sea turtles and marine mammals  similtaneously.