Southeastern U.S. Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Trawl Fishery - MMPA List of Fisheries
Learn about the 2024 classification of the Southeastern U.S. Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Trawl Fishery.
U.S. fisheries are classified under the Marine Mammal Protection Act according to the level incidental mortality or serious injury of marine mammals.
Current Classification on the List of Fisheries
Category | II |
Estimated Number of Participants | 10,824 |
Target Species | Brown, pink and white shrimp within estuaries, and near coastal and offshore regions. Royal Red shrimp along the deep continental slope |
Applicable Take Reduction Plans | N/A |
Observer Coverage | This fishery was observed between 1992 and 2006 under a voluntary program, which became mandatory in 2007. Observer coverage was less than 1% for all observed years. |
Marine Mammal Species/Stocks Killed or Injured | Atlantic spotted dolphin, Northern Gulf of Mexico; Bottlenose dolphin, Barataria Bay Estuarine System; Bottlenose dolphin, GMX continental shelf; Bottlenose dolphin, Mississippi River Delta; Bottlenose dolphin, Mobile Bay, Bonsecour Bay; Bottlenose dolphin, Northern GMX coastal1; Bottlenose dolphin, Pensacola Bay, East Bay; Bottlenose dolphin, Perdido Bay; Bottlenose dolphin, South Carolina/Georgia (SC/GA) coastal1; Bottlenose dolphin, Southern migratory coastal; Bottlenose dolphin, Eastern GMX coastal1; Bottlenose dolphin, Western GMX coastal1; Bottlenose dolphin, GMX bay, sound, estuarine1 |
^ Number of participants estimates are based on state and federal fisheries permit data. The estimated number of participants is expressed in terms of the number of active participants in the fishery, when possible. If this information is not available, the estimated number of vessels or persons licensed for a particular fishery is provided. If no recent information is available on the number of participants, then the number from the most recent LOF is used. NOAA Fisheries acknowledges that, in some cases, these estimations may be inflating actual effort.
*Observer coverage levels include the latest information reported in the most current final Stock Assessment Report (SAR).
1 Indicates the stock or species is driving the classification of the fishery.
Basis for Current Classification
Based on interactions reported through observer reports, stranding data, and fisheries research data, with multiple strategic and non-strategic marine mammal stocks. Due to the lack of PBR data for most of the stocks and the low observer coverage in this fishery, NOAA Fisheries conducted a qualitative analysis to determine the appropriate classification for this fishery. Even with low coverage, NOAA Fisheries observed 12 dolphin takes (of which 11 were serious injuries or mortalities) since 1993; 11 of which were taken since 2002. Also, the final 2009 SARs note that "occasional interactions with bottlenose dolphins have been observed...and there is infrequent evidence of interactions from stranded animals." Further, Marine Mammal Authorization Program (MMAP) records list 1 dolphin take in shrimp trawl gear in South Carolina in 2002. Lastly, 13 dolphin takes, 10 of which were taken since 2002, have been documented by NOAA Fisheries in Southeast U.S. research trawl operations, and/or relocation trawls conducted.
Distribution
The pelagic or bottom trawl fishery operating virtually year-round in the Atlantic Ocean from NC through FL, and in the Gulf of Mexico from FL through TX. Effort occurs in estuarine, near shore coastal waters, and along the continental slope of the Atlantic and estuarine, near shore coastal, and offshore continental shelf and slope waters in the Gulf of Mexico. Fishery typically operates from sunset to sunrise when shrimp are most likely to swim higher in the water column.
Gear Description
This fishery targets shrimp species with various gear types, but mainly utilizes skimmer or otter trawls. These gear types likely entangle marine mammals, particularly bottlenose dolphins, in very similar ways. The common entangling mechanism of these gear types are the “lazy” or “easy” line. The most commonly employed gear in this fishery is a double-rig otter trawl, which normally includes a lazy line attached to each bag's codend. The lazy line floats free during active trawling, and as the net is hauled back, it is retrieved with a boat- or grappling-hook to assist in guiding and emptying the trawl nets. Shrimp trawl soak time is about three hours.
Management
Although shrimp trawlers are required under Endangered Species Act regulations to use turtle excluder devices to reduce sea turtle bycatch (50 CFR 223.206), the fishery currently does not use any method or gear modification to deter, or reduce bycatch of, marine mammals.
Historical Information
Original Category (Year added to the LOF) | III (1996) |
Original Number of Participants | >18,000 |
Basis for Original Classification | This fishery was categorized as a Category III based on over 10,000 observer hours in the Atlantic and over 17,000 observer hours in the Gulf of Mexico. No injuries or mortalities of any marine mammal species were observed. However, a shrimp trawl fisherman reported one dolphin mortality offshore due to entanglement with the lazy line. This animal was most likely a coastal GMX bottlenose dolphin. |
Past Names | Mid-Atlantic, Southeastern U.S. Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico shrimp trawl (until 2001) |
Species/stocks historically documented as killed or injured (but not currently on the list) | Bottlenose dolphin, Charleston estuarine system; West Indian manatee, Florida |
Timeline of Changes
2024 |
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2023 |
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2022 |
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2021 |
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2020 |
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2019 |
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2015 |
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2012 |
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2011 |
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2005 |
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2001 |
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