As part of our science and management mission, NOAA Fisheries collects information about fishing effort and bycatch from the fishing industry, either through direct observation or industry provided reports. Now we are working to make this information easily available to scientists and managers, as well as the public.
Information about sea turtle interactions observed in the southeast shrimp fisheries is now available on our website. This information will be updated on an annual basis.
In the U.S. Southeast Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, NOAA’s Southeast Fisheries Science Center worked closely with the trawl fishing industry to develop turtle excluder devices (TEDs) to reduce the bycatch mortality of sea turtles caught in shrimp trawl gear; incidental bycatch of sea turtles in shrimp trawls can lead to their drowning unless properly installed and maintained TEDs are used. NOAA Fisheries gear experts continue to work with the shrimp fishing industry to develop new and effective ways to reduce bycatch.
More Information:
There are seven species of sea turtles in the world. Six of them live in U.S. waters: green, hawksbill, Kemp’s ridley, leatherback, loggerhead, and olive ridley sea turtles. All of these species are listed and protected under the Endangered Species Act. Contact your local sea turtle stranding network if you see a sick, injured, or dead sea turtle.
Contact:
If you have further questions regarding this matter, please contact the Judy Gocke with NOAA Fisheries Southeast Fisheries Science Center at (409) 766 3511.
Sign Up for Text Message Alerts - Find Out About Immediate Openings and Closures
NOAA's Text Message Alert Program allows you to receive important fishery related alerts via text message (SMS). Standard message & data rates may apply. You may opt-out at any time.
Text alerts you may receive include:
- Immediate fishery openings and closures
- Any significant changes to fishing regulations that happen quickly
Sign up for one or more of the following groups:
- Gulf of Mexico Recreational Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text GULFRECFISH to 888777
- Gulf of Mexico Commercial Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text GULFCOMMFISH to 888777
- South Atlantic Recreational Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text SATLRECFISH to 888777
- South Atlantic Commercial Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text SATLCOMMFISH to 888777
- Caribbean Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text CARIBFISH to 888777
Join us every other Friday on NOAA Fish Instagram for Rec Fish Friday!
Other contacts:
Media: Allison Garrett, 727-551-5750
