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Key Message:
NOAA Fisheries has reports of a high number of incorrectly-installed Chauvin shrimp deflectors in shrimp trawl nets. Incorrect configurations will not allow sea turtles to effectively escape from the net through the turtle excluder device (TED). This may result in sea turtle bycatch and mortality, and could lead to fishery violations with significant fines for fishermen.
TED regulations at 50 CFR 223.207(d)(8) specify the installation requirements for the Chauvin Shrimp Deflector and notes it:
- must not reduce the minimum stretched measurements of the TED opening;
- may not be installed with a bottom escape opening;
- is constructed from a single piece of 3-inch (7.6-cm) inside diameter PVC pipe which measures 30 inches (76.2 cm) in length;
- encases the PVC pipe in a webbing or mesh bag using a single piece of 1-5⁄8 inch (4.1 cm) stretched-mesh webbing made of nylon or polyethylene with dimensions 57 meshes wide by 10 meshes deep;
- may be used with any approved TED opening (e.g 44-inch inshore, 71-inch or Double Cover openings); and the
- ends of the PVC pipe are left uncapped.
The mesh bag is further created by attaching the leading edge of the 57-mesh piece of webbing around the PVC pipe and back to the row of meshes located 7 meshes down the 10-mesh length. The ends of the webbing are sewn together on each end forming a webbing bag to assure the PVC pipe remains encased in the webbing. This leaves a 3-mesh tail hanging from the encased PVC pipe. The 3-mesh tail of the encased PVC pipe is then sewn to a single row of meshes on the inside of the trawl along the 57-mesh edge, 3 meshes ahead of the forward cut of the TED escape opening. This would allow a 3-mesh overlap to the left and right of the forward cut. Correct installation guide images are included below:
Some of the illegal modifications reported include multiple pieces of incorrectly sized PVC pipe tied together:
We have also noted instances of fishermen securing the PVC pipe tightly to the forward cut of the escape opening to the point that it does not allow the escape opening to stretch to its minimum required measurement - please see the image below. Any deviation from the approved guidelines is illegal and in violation of federal law.
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Sign Up for Text Message Alerts
Our Text Message Alert Program allows you to receive important fishery related alerts via text message (SMS). Standard message and data rates may apply. You may opt-out at any time. Text alerts you may receive include immediate fishery openings and closures and any significant changes to fishing regulations that happen quickly.
Sign up for one or more of the fisheries-related alerts below by texting the following to 888777:
- Gulf of Mexico Recreational: Text GULFRECFISH
- Gulf of Mexico Commercial: Text GULFCOMMFISH
- South Atlantic Recreational: Text SATLRECFISH
- South Atlantic Commercial: Text SATLCOMMFISH
- Caribbean: Text CARIBFISH
Permits Mailbox
The Permits Office in St. Petersburg, Florida now has a Permits mailbox in the front lobby (263 13th Ave. South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701). You can now drop off original permits for permit transfers. Envelopes with information labels will be provided so that your documents can be attached to the correct application. The mailbox will be checked daily. For more information contact the Permits Office at (877) 376-4877.
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Other Contacts
Media: Allison Garrett (727) 551-5750
Recreational Fishing Coordinator: Sean Meehan (727) 385-5202
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