May 2, 2001 – The Center and Turtle Island Restoration Network,
represented by Earthjustice, filed suit against the National
Marine Fisheries Service over the relocation of a fleet of
longline fishing vessels to California. The longline vessels
were relocated to avoid a judge’s decision to enforce
protections for the leatherback sea turtle. December 2005 – A
federal judge approved a settlement agreement between
environmental organizations, sportfishing representatives, and
the National Marine Fisheries Service designed to protect the
Atlantic white marlin from longline fishing. June 11, 2007 –
Under pressure from scientists and conservation groups,
including the Center, the National Marine Fisheries Service
denied a proposal to allow drift gillnet vessels to operate in
an area off the California and Oregon coasts where such fishing
is seasonally banned to protect the critically endangered
Pacific leatherback sea turtle. July 9, 2007 – Responding to
concerns raised by the Center, the California Coastal Commiss