A new report says Mexico has abandoned protection of loggerhead sea turtles

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The Mexican government has largely abandoned protection and enforcement measures for loggerhead sea turtles, leading to a spike in the number of turtles being caught up and killed in fishing nets, according to a report released Monday.

The findings were announced by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation, which functions as part of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement.

While the commission does not have any powers to enforce its findings, the U.S. government can demand that Mexico comply and could impose import bans on Mexican seafood if it concludes that Mexico isn’t enforcing protections.

Since 2019, by-catch quotas have been basically eliminated in Mexico, and inspections have plummeted.

“We’ve lost thousands of imperiled loggerhead sea turtles because Mexico has done almost nothing to protect them,” said Alejandro Olivera, a senior scientist and Mexico representative at the Center for Biological Diversity. “I’m glad the international community is finally holding the Mexican government accountable.”