New campaign tackles TED compliance

The Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA) this week launched a campaign directed at restoring full industry compliance with laws regarding the use of turtle excluder devices (TEDs) in fishing nets.

The goal of the campaign, directed at shrimp fishermen throughout the Gulf and South Atlantic region, is to restore TED compliance to previous levels of 97 percent.

The campaign launched with a letter to the shrimp industry that asks fishermen not to fish until they are certain they are in compliance and recommends that shrimpers work with the U.S. government’s Gear Management Team before leaving the dock. It also warns shrimpers against turning a blind eye when they see other shrimpers in violation.

The SSA is taking the message to Washington, D.C., where it will be meeting with regulatory leaders to discuss an action plan for what steps the industry and government can take together to solve both the problem of TEDs compliance and the issue of turtle strandings.

“The shrimp fishery’s high compliance with turtle excluder device laws has allowed shrimp fishermen to continue operating under the strict rules of the Endangered Species Act. Compliance has decreased recently and the fishery could be closed if the violations do not stop immediately,” said John Williams, SSA executive director. “Every violation, regardless of severity of intention, puts our entire fishery at a very real and serious risk of being shut down.”

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