• Home

Turtle Excluder Devices (TED) and tow time restrictions REMINDER:
We would like to remind you and make you aware that Turtle Excluder Devices (TED) and tow time restrictions are required in Louisiana waters. Federal regulations, which are enforced by U.S. Coast Guard, NOAA Fisheries and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, require any shrimp trawler in the Atlantic Area or Gulf Area to have an approved TED installed in each net that is rigged for fishing.
However, certain exemptions to these requirements may apply (e.g. vessels without power or mechanical means of net retrieval, test trawls, skimmer and butterfly nets in compliance with tow time restrictions). A net is rigged for fishing if it is in the water, or if it is shackled, tied, or otherwise connected to any trawl door or board, or to any tow rope, cable, pole or extension, either on board or attached in any manner to the shrimp trawler.
Skimmer and butterfly nets are exempt from TED use; however, federal regulations require skimmer and butterfly net fishermen to limit tow times if they do not use TEDs. The tow time is measured from the time the cod-end of the net enters the water until it is removed from the water.
Maximum tow times are 55 minutes from April 1 – October 31 and increase to 75 minutes from November 1 – March 31.
Copyright © 2007 LouisinaShrimp.org. All rights reserved.