The National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS) has granted shrimp trawlers a temporary
30-day exemption from federal Turtle Excluder Device (TED)
requirements in state and federal waters from the western
end of Timbalier Island at approximately 90 degrees 33 minutes
west longitude eastward to the Plaquemines/Jefferson Parish
line at approximately 89 degrees 54 minutes west longitude
and extending 15 nautical miles seaward.
Shrimp trawlers
fishing in these waters are now exempt from federal TED requirements
through 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 28, 2008. In lieu of TED’s,
this authorization requires shrimp trawlers to restrict tow
times to 55 minutes through Oct. 31 and to 75 minutes thereafter.
Tow times are 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
Nov. 28, 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 LDWF to further extend
an earlier temporary TED exemption which included state and
federal waters from the Mississsippi/Louisiana state line
to the Louisiana/Texas state line seaward a distance of 20
miles which will expire on Nov. 26, 2008.
Shrimp trawlers
who continue to use legal TEDs in the affected areas do not
have to limit their tow times. NMFS encourages shrimp trawlers
in the affected areas to continue to use TEDs if possible,
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 continue to report 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.
