Post by Patrick Kubeja on Oct 30, 2004 8:11:16 GMT -5
Ivan Debris Prompts Temporary Lifting Of Turtle-Saving Devices
Saturday, October 16, 2004 Times Picayune, New Orleans
With waters in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama clogged by debris from Hurricane Ivan, federal fishing regulators have decided to allow shrimpers to forgo use of devices on their nets that save sea turtles. The National Marine Fisheries Service this week said that shrimpers would not need to use so-called turtle excluder devices, commonly known as TEDs, on their trawl nets. Instead of TEDs, shrimpers are being asked to limit their tow times. By not trawling as long, officials hope any sea turtles caught in nets will not be harmed or killed. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says shrimpers have reported hauling in matted grasses, branches, sunken buoys and metal roofing material. TEDs are meant to save sea turtles from getting trapped in nets. When a turtle hits a TED the device opens and releases the turtle. But other large objects, such as debris, also trigger them to open, freeing shrimp caught in the nets. Federal regulators said they issued the exemption upon the request of state officials who said debris was causing TEDs to become clogged and ineffective. In Louisiana, the exemption is allowed in state waters from the Mississippi-Louisiana border to about the west end of Grand Isle. The exemption is valid in all Alabama and Mississippi state waters. Shrimp trawlers will be required to limit their tow times to 55 minutes until Oct. 31 and to 75 minutes from Nov. 1 to Nov. 11. The exemption does not apply to federal waters, which run 200 miles out from the coast.
Saturday, October 16, 2004 Times Picayune, New Orleans
With waters in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama clogged by debris from Hurricane Ivan, federal fishing regulators have decided to allow shrimpers to forgo use of devices on their nets that save sea turtles. The National Marine Fisheries Service this week said that shrimpers would not need to use so-called turtle excluder devices, commonly known as TEDs, on their trawl nets. Instead of TEDs, shrimpers are being asked to limit their tow times. By not trawling as long, officials hope any sea turtles caught in nets will not be harmed or killed. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says shrimpers have reported hauling in matted grasses, branches, sunken buoys and metal roofing material. TEDs are meant to save sea turtles from getting trapped in nets. When a turtle hits a TED the device opens and releases the turtle. But other large objects, such as debris, also trigger them to open, freeing shrimp caught in the nets. Federal regulators said they issued the exemption upon the request of state officials who said debris was causing TEDs to become clogged and ineffective. In Louisiana, the exemption is allowed in state waters from the Mississippi-Louisiana border to about the west end of Grand Isle. The exemption is valid in all Alabama and Mississippi state waters. Shrimp trawlers will be required to limit their tow times to 55 minutes until Oct. 31 and to 75 minutes from Nov. 1 to Nov. 11. The exemption does not apply to federal waters, which run 200 miles out from the coast.