"Fishing Gear"

We track abandoned fishing nets with satellite-transmitting buoys to better understand where fishing litter ends up to aid in debris removal missions.

FB19-040 Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Fishery Bulletin. For more information contact: Kelli O'Donnell, (727) 824-5305, Kelli.ODonnell@noaa.gov

The Mobile Fishing Gear Effects literature citation collection is a comprehensive listing of scientific and popular literature on demersal, mobile fishing gear and the potential effects of its use. The primary focus is on trawling, dredging and raking, and the resulting direct disturbance to marine habitats and the associated biological communities. To a lesser extent, papers addressing other potential effects, such as bycatch, discards and changes to ecological succession, are also referenced if directly related to mobile gear fishing. This database does not reference papers that specifically investigate fishing impacts due to trapping, ghost fishing, use of poisons/chemicals, dynamite blasting or impacts due to boat hulls, anchors or propeller wash.

Learn how to construct, install, and maintain TEDs in compliance with regulations.

Learn about the history behind the development of TEDs and how they have changed over the last 30 years.

In order for TEDs to be effective, compliance within the fishing industry is paramount. To ensure strong levels of compliance, our Gear Management Team and Office of Law Enforcement regularly conduct courtesy boardings and TED workshops. In addition, the…

Turtle excluder devices (TED) have been required in the United States beginning in 1987. The southeastern shrimp fisheries—which once faced severe restrictions and closures to protect endangered sea turtles—have continued to operate while saving the…

Turtle excluder devices, commonly called TEDs, promote sea turtle conservation by addressing interactions between sea turtles and trawl fishing gear. These devices are made of metal bars and mesh that fit inside the neck of a trawl net. While shrimp pass between the bars to the back of the net, turtles and other larger animals bump against the metal grid and escape through a flap in the mesh.

NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-OPR-41 Published Date: 2008