Sea Turtle Bycatch Reduction in Trawl Fisheries: Atlantic Croaker/Weakfish Trawls

Feedback is needed on the following modifications under consideration for Atlantic croaker/weakfish trawl gear.

New England/Mid-Atlantic

Current TED Requirements

There are currently no TED requirements for this fishery.

New Measures Under Consideration

TEDs (TI, TII, Flexible Flatbar Flynet TED, other approved TEDs) with the larger escape opening in the croaker/weakfish fishery to allow sea turtles to escape trawl gear.
Limited tow times with data loggers, if feasible and enforceable, as an alternative to the TED requirement to provide flexibility to the fishery.

Research

TI cable TED

Catch Retention Testing

Target catch: Between 19-77% loss. High variability between tows due to sampling design and high volume catch in the fishery. Croaker catches of over 20,000 pounds were landed with the cable TED installed.
Other bycatch (e.g., large rays, sharks): Ten times lower with cable TED installed

TII Cable TED

Catch Retention Testing

Target catch: 16% loss (tested in Suriname)
Other bycatch: Significantly reduced

Flexible Flatbar Flynet TED

Catch Retention Testing

Target catch: Non-statistically significant 4% loss of croaker
Other target catch: Significant loss of other target species (e.g., bluefish and menhaden)
Other bycatch: Significantly reduced

Data loggers

Trawl tow durations of less than one hour are expected to result in low turtle mortality. Tow duration data loggers measure the amount of time the net is in the water beyond a certain depth. The logger, which is attached to the trawl door, is ruggedized to withstand marine conditions and handling on deck. The data logger indicates when tow durations have been exceeded, allowing for monitoring and enforcement.

Feasibility Testing

Data loggers were found to reliably record and monitor limited tow durations and withstand fishing conditions. We are continuing to test the latest technology to ensure that the monitoring and enforcement of limited tow durations is feasible.