Claws out: crab fishermen sue 30 oil firms over climate change

Fossil fuel companies including Chevron and ExxonMobil 'knowingly caused harm' by contributing to warming, group says

For the fourth-generation crab fisherman John Beardon, the warming of Pacific waters off the coast of California has meant toxic crabs, shortened fishing seasons and a near decimation of his livelihood as a crab boat captain. Now he would like to see the industry he says is responsible pay for the damage.

On Wednesday, associations representing California crab fishermen like Beardon filed suit against 30 fossil fuel companies seeking to make the companies pay for the harm global warming has caused to California's fisheries. The suit demands that petroleum interests finance the changes that will be needed to sustain the crab fishing industry in the future.