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Posted: Tuesday, June 26th, 2012 8:11 AM HST

Conservation groups sue to protect Hawaii dolphin

By Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) — Conservation groups are suing the National Marine Fisheries Service to implement a plan to protect rare dolphins living near Hawaii. Earthjustice says it filed the federal lawsuit Monday on behalf of the Center for Biological Diversity and the Turtle Island Restoration Network. The species is called "false killer whale" even though it doesn't look like a whale. The federal agency's 2010 study says the small population is in danger of inbreeding and of getting caught on fishing lines. The groups say the agency is now six months past its statutory deadline to finalize a plan to reduce the deaths. Last month, Natural Resources Defense Council filed a lawsuit against the agency to force a decision on whether to place an insular population of the dolphin on the endangered species list.