Gulf Shrimp Trawler Fined for Disabling Turtle Excluder Device

Back to Map Page July, 1998 In June the Coast Guard caught a Louisiana shrimp trawler with a dead Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle and a disabled turtle excluder device. Turtle excluder devices (TEDs) are a grate and trap door installed in shrimp nets to allow endangered sea turtles to escape the nets. TEDs have been required on all US shrimp trawlers since the mid-1980s. Since their introduction these devices are credited with drastically reducing turtle mortality in American shrimp fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico.   Shrimp nets continue to be a principal cause of sea turtle mortality.  The trawler caught with the disabled device and the dead turtle was fishing in Lake Ponchartrain, in southern Louisiana. The captain had a TED in his net, but the device’s door had been sewn shut, resulting in the death of the endangered turtle. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported on July 6 that the captain received a $6,000 fine for the violations. Shrimp trawlers are a principal cause of sea turtle mortality worldwide. Each year nearly 150,000 endangered turtles drown after being caught in shrimp nets. TEDs are relatively inexpensive--about $75--and after initial controversy they have been generally accepted in the US shrimp fishery. In addition to requiring TEDs on all domestic trawls, US law bans international trade in shrimp with countries that do not use TEDs.     A Turtle Excluder Device (TED) is keeps turtles out of the bag end of a shrimp net and lets turtles escape through an opening in the top or bottom of the net. In related news, four Asian countries recently petitioned the US turtle-protecting trade ban by submitting a complaint to the World Trade Organization. The countries, Thailand, Malaysia, Pakistan, and India, claimed that the ban constitutes an unfair trade restriction. In June 1998 the World Trade Organization ruled against the United States. In July President Clinton appealed this decision. Results of this appeal should be released this fall. Meanwhile, in July the Earth Island Institute, based in San Francisco, stepped into the Gulf shrimp fray by proposing a program of certifying shrimpers “turtle-free.” The organization is beginning a campaign to encourage shrimpers voluntarily to allow TED inspection in order to gain certification. Hoping to repeat past success in establishing widespread awareness of “dolphin-friendly” tuna, the Earth Island Institute aims to convince the shrimp-eating public as well as the trawlers of the benefits of saving turtles. To read more, see Environmental Science, A Global Concern, Cunningham and Saigo, 5th ed. Endangered species protection: pages 283-288 Environmental Science, Enger and Smith, 6th ed. Turtles and the shrimp fishery: page 346 For further information, see these related web sites: Turtle excluder devices: information from the National Marine Fisheries Administration NOAA Technical paper on turtle excluder devices (this is a 659k PDF file; you will need Adobe Acrobat to read this file) Campaign for turtle-friendly shrimp: news from the Earth Island Institute Back to Map Page feedback form | permissions | international | locate your campus rep | request a review copy digital solutions | publish with us | customer service | mhhe home Copyright ©2001 The McGraw-Hill Companies. Any use is subject to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. McGraw-Hill Higher Education is one of the many fine businesses of the The McGraw-Hill Companies.