The National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS) has granted shrimp trawlers a temporary
30-day exemption from federal Turtle Excluder Device (TED)
requirements in certain state and federal waters off Louisiana.
Shrimp trawlers fishing in Louisiana waters from the Mississippi/Louisiana
boundary to the Texas/Louisiana boundary, and extending offshore
20 nautical miles, are now exempt from federal TED requirements
until 11:59 p.m. on October 26, 2008. In lieu of TED’s,
this authorization requires shrimp trawlers to restrict tow
times to 55 minutes measured from the time trawl doors enter
the water until they are retrieved from the water according
to NMFS.
This exemption
from federal TED requirements will expire at 11:59 p.m. on
October 26, 2008, unless otherwise extended by NMFS. Federal
regulations provide for the use of limited tow times as an
alternative to the use of TEDs if determined "that the
presence of debris or other special environmental conditions
in a particular area makes trawling with TED-equipped nets
impracticable."
This action follows
NMFS consideration of a request made by Louisiana officials
following passage of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.
NMFS encourages
shrimp trawlers in the affected areas to continue to use TEDs
if possible. NMFS’ studies have shown that the problem
of clogging by seagrass, algae, or by other debris is not
unique to TED-equipped nets. When fishermen trawl in problem
areas, they may experience clogging with or without TEDs.
Shrimp trawlers who continue to use legal TEDs in the affected
areas do not have to limit their tow times. However, shrimpers
choosing to use tow-time limitations may not simply sew the
TED flaps shut; they must remove the TEDs from the trawls.
NMFS will continue
to monitor this situation. If monitoring indicates that debris
is no longer a problem, then this authorization will be shortened.
If debris continues to be a problem after the dates above,
this authorization may be extended. Fishermen should monitor
NOAA weather radio for announcements or contact the NMFS Southeast
Regional Office at 727 824-5312.
Louisiana shrimp
fishermen and LDWF marine fisheries biologists have reported
the presence of large amounts of storm related debris throughout
the impacted area. This debris primarily consists not only
of man-made debris but matted grasses, rooted clumps of marsh
vegetation, Roseau cane and branches uprooted and displaced
by the storms. The debris has severely impacted both shrimp
catch and TED performance and has damaged fishing gear as
well.
