NOAA rule to soon require skimmer trawl turtle excluder device on commercial vessels, gear reimbursement program available

BILOXI, Miss. – The upcoming NOAA Skimmer Trawl Turtle Excluder Device (TED) rule will soon require all shrimp skimmer trawl vessels 40 feet and greater in length to install and use TEDs designed to exclude small sea turtles in their nets. Through a TED gear reimbursement program, fishermen may be reimbursed for NOAA-approved TEDs installed on their commercial vessels.

The TED’s arc is designed to reduce the number of sea turtles captured in shrimp trawls by allowing turtles an opening to escape the net. The space between the deflector bars of the new TEDs must not exceed 3 inches, escape openings must be oriented at the top of the net and there are potential webbing restrictions on the escape opening flap depending on the type of TED grid and escape opening configuration.

The TED gear reimbursement program is funded as part of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) Protected Species Task 6, as written in the grant from the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR).

Program eligibility

To be eligible for this program, fishermen must meet the following criteria (a separate online application must be submitted for each qualified vessel):

• Must be a Mississippi resident.
• Must have had a 2018-2019 or 2019-2020 and a current 2020-2021 Mississippi resident commercial shrimp license for a skimmer trawl vessel 40 feet and over (license type 52 or 53).
• A maximum of two NOAA-approved TEDs and installation will be reimbursed per qualified licensed vessel not to exceed $700 ($350 per TED).
• Must apply online at https://arcg.is/1uamKq0.
• Must watch MDMR-NOAA Gear Monitoring Team video information on specifications for the skimmer TEDs.
• Qualified shrimpers can register online and will be required to purchase the TEDs within 90 days of the date of submitting their online application in order to receive reimbursement from MDMR.
• This program will end July 31, 2021.

Apply for the program:

• Applications open: 8 a.m. on April 1, 2021
• Applications close: 11:59 p.m. on July 31, 2021

All applications submitted before the deadline will be considered. No late applications will be considered and there will be no appeals if the deadline is missed. 

For assistance submitting a reimbursement application, contact Mike Brainard with the MDMR at 228-374-5000 or email SkimmerTED@dmr.ms.gov.

For information on the NOAA Skimmer Trawl Turtle Excluder Device (TED) rule, visit www.fisheries.noaa.gov/southeast/bycatch/turtle-excluder-device-regulations.

For technical assistance, contact the NOAA Gear Monitoring Team at (228) 762-4591 or email TED.info@noaa.gov.