NOAA Fisheries Imposes Emergency Rule to Protect Sea Turtles from Shrimp Trawls NOAA Fisheries Imposes Emergency Rule to Protect Sea Turtles from Shrimp Trawls
Emergency Rule Set to Expire after 11:59 p.m. on July 7, 2004
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) has imposed emergency restrictions that affect shrimpers operating in south Atlantic offshore waters (seaward of the COLREGs demarcation line) west of 77°57.5′ W. longitude (approximately Cape Fear, N.C.) and north of 30° N. latitude (just north of St. Augustine, Fla.). Shrimpers trawling within that area are prohibited from fishing at night – between 9:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. These restrictions are effective immediately and will expire at 11:59 p.m. July 7, 2004. They are necessary because higher than normal shrimping effort in an area of high turtle concentrations is causing increased pressure on sea turtle (from multiple captures in shrimp trawls) which is causing an extraordinarily high number of sea turtle deaths. This action is necessary to reduce mortality of sea turtles listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA).
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GADNR) has notified NOAA Fisheries that from May 5, 2004, through May 24, 2004, 82 dead sea turtles washed ashore on Georgia’s beaches. The condition of the stranded turtles indicates that they were healthy and actively foraging before they died, which is consistent with drowning in shrimp trawls. By comparison, over the previous 12 years for this time period, an average of 18 sea turtles stranded in Georgia. Whereas strandings are only a minimum indicator of actual mortality, these strandings represent a threat to the recovery and survival of the local sea turtle populations. Therefore, to reduce fishing pressure on sea turtles, NOAA Fisheries is implementing this emergency action.
This and other news releases are available on the SERO homepage at: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/.
NOAA Fisheries is dedicated to protecting and preserving our nation’s living marine resources and their habitats through scientific research, management and enforcement. NOAA Fisheries provides effective stewardship of these resources for the benefit of the nation, supporting coastal communities that depend upon them, and helping to provide safe and healthy seafood to consumers and recreational opportunities for the American public.
Emergency Rule Set to Expire after 11:59 p.m. on July 7, 2004
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) has imposed emergency restrictions that affect shrimpers operating in south Atlantic offshore waters (seaward of the COLREGs demarcation line) west of 77°57.5′ W. longitude (approximately Cape Fear, N.C.) and north of 30° N. latitude (just north of St. Augustine, Fla.). Shrimpers trawling within that area are prohibited from fishing at night – between 9:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. These restrictions are effective immediately and will expire at 11:59 p.m. July 7, 2004. They are necessary because higher than normal shrimping effort in an area of high turtle concentrations is causing increased pressure on sea turtle (from multiple captures in shrimp trawls) which is causing an extraordinarily high number of sea turtle deaths. This action is necessary to reduce mortality of sea turtles listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA).
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GADNR) has notified NOAA Fisheries that from May 5, 2004, through May 24, 2004, 82 dead sea turtles washed ashore on Georgia’s beaches. The condition of the stranded turtles indicates that they were healthy and actively foraging before they died, which is consistent with drowning in shrimp trawls. By comparison, over the previous 12 years for this time period, an average of 18 sea turtles stranded in Georgia. Whereas strandings are only a minimum indicator of actual mortality, these strandings represent a threat to the recovery and survival of the local sea turtle populations. Therefore, to reduce fishing pressure on sea turtles, NOAA Fisheries is implementing this emergency action.
This and other news releases are available on the SERO homepage at: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/.
NOAA Fisheries is dedicated to protecting and preserving our nation’s living marine resources and their habitats through scientific research, management and enforcement. NOAA Fisheries provides effective stewardship of these resources for the benefit of the nation, supporting coastal communities that depend upon them, and helping to provide safe and healthy seafood to consumers and recreational opportunities for the American public.
