Study Ties Fishermen to Turtle 'Death Zone' off Baja Sea turtles that swim from Baja, Calif., to Japan and back are disappearing fast, despite tough new restrictions on some of the commercial fishing fleets that catch and kill the turtles by mistake. But a new study finds another threat to giant loggerheads: local fishermen who work the waters off the coast of Baja.
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Study Ties Fishermen to Turtle 'Death Zone' off Baja

Study Ties Fishermen to Turtle 'Death Zone' off Baja

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Big commercial fishing fleets with nets that stretch for miles are often blamed for driving sea turtles to the brink of extinction.

The loggerheads that swim from Baja, Calif., to Japan and back are disappearing fast, despite tough new restrictions on some of the fleets that catch and kill the turtles by mistake.

But a new study of Pacific loggerhead turtles has identified what may be an even bigger threat — small fishing boats that work in coastal waters.

Scientists have discovered what they call a sea turtle "death zone" off the coast of mexico.

Some fishermen are trying to protect the giant sea turtles, but "some" may not be enough.