Sea Turtle Bycatch Measures in Atlantic Trawl Fisheries — Upcoming Information Gathering!

Fisheries bycatch is the primary threat to endangered and threatened sea turtles in the Greater Atlantic Region and occurs at high levels in several regional trawl fisheries. Since approximately 2000, we have been investigating gear modifications to reduce mortality of incidentally bycaught sea turtles, and our focus has been on the trawl fisheries with the highest bycatch of sea turtles in our region, namely the Atlantic croaker, longfin squid, and summer flounder fisheries.

What is being considered?

While final operational feasibility research is completed, we are gathering early input and information from the public to inform any future measures. Given the results of previous research, we are considering:

Requiring TEDs with a large escape opening in trawls that target Atlantic croaker, weakfish, and longfin squid to reduce injury and mortality resulting from accidental capture in these fisheries;
Moving the current northern boundary of the TED requirements in the summer flounder fishery (i.e., the Summer Flounder Fishery-Sea Turtle Protection Area) to a point farther north to more comprehensively address capture in this fishery;
Amending the TED requirements for the summer flounder fishery to require a larger escape opening to allow the release of larger hard-shelled and leatherback sea turtles; and
Adding an option requiring limited tow durations, if feasible and enforceable, in lieu of TEDs in these fisheries to provide flexibility to the fisheries.

How can you provide input?

Written comments may be submitted to nmfs.gar.turtletrawl@noaa.gov by May 31.
Oral comments may be submitted at call-in days or on a webinar.
- Call-in days:
  - March 4, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., (978) 281-9276
  - March 22, noon to 6 p.m., (978) 281-9276
- Webinars: While we will present information on all fisheries under consideration, the webinars are designed to provide a more in-depth focus on a particular fishery. Regardless of the focus, we will be accepting comments on all measures under consideration at all of the webinars.
  - Croaker: February 16, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Register here [lnks.gd].
  - Longfin squid: March 1, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Register here [lnks.gd].
  - Summer flounder: March 14, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Register here [lnks.gd].

Where can you find more information?

The sea turtle bycatch in trawl fisheries website [lnks.gd] provides background information, descriptions of TED designs, research reports, measures under consideration, the type of information needed from the public, and how to comment and participate in public webinars.