Federal officials say they may restrict salmon fishing off the West Coast to help the Pacific Northwest's critically endangered killer whales, but two environmental groups are suing anyway to ensure it happens. The National Marine Fisheries Service issued a letter early last month indicating that it intends to do so. In December, the Center for Biological Diversity told the fisheries service it was intending to sue to force it to reconsider how salmon fishing off the coast affects the orcas. Michael Milstein, a spokesman for the fisheries service, said Wednesday the agency is reviewing the lawsuit. Teel Simmonds called the fisheries service response "a great sign," but that it wasn't a clear enough step to avert the lawsuit.

Source: ABC News April 03, 2019 19:00 UTC