The National Marine Fisheries Service has agreed to study whether to list the Atlantic bluefin tuna, which has a major spawning ground in the Gulf of Mexico near the site of the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster, as an endangered species.
The decision, announced on the federal agency's web page on Thursday, comes after a Tuesday threat by the Center for Biological Diversity to sue the agency for not adequately protecting the tuna species under the Endangered Species Act.
The environmental group on May 24 petitioned the National Marine Fisheries Service to begin the study. In its announcement, the fisheries service said, "We find that the petition presents substantial scientific information indicating the petitioned action may be warranted."
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