300 endangered turtles found dead in Mexico

Mexico City : More than 300 sea turtles from an endangered species were found dead on a beach in southern Mexico, trapped in a banned type of fishing net, environmental authorities said. In Mexico’s second mass turtle death in as many weeks, the Pacific Ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) were found floating just off the beach of Puerto Escondido in the state of Oaxaca, their shells forming a bleak mini-island.

“They had drowned at sea about eight days earlier, trapped in banned 120-meter fishing nets and six-inch nylon fishing line,” said Mexico’s prosecution unit for environmental crimes. On August 17, authorities said they had found 122 sea turtles dead on a beach in the neighboring state of Chiapas, mostly from the same species.