Sea Turtle NOAA Statistics
Content
When legally-constructed Turtle Excluder Devices (TED) are installed and operating correctly in shrimp otter trawl nets, a small percentage of the sea turtles
entering the nets (i.e., 3 percent) still do not escape by means of the TED and are captured. However, when TEDs in nets are not constructed, installed, or operating
legally, TED effectiveness can be reduced and result in more than a 3 percent sea turtle capture rate. In severe cases, TED effectiveness can be completely
compromised (i.e., have a 100 percent sea turtle capture rate).
The April 18, 2014, biological opinion requires NOAA Fisheries to maintain monitoring and ensure compliance with TED regulations at a level that keeps overall
average sea turtle catch rates (i.e., the percent of sea turtles that do not escape via the TED and are captured) in the shrimp otter trawl fleet at or below 12 percent.
NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement and NOAA Fisheries Southeast Fishery Science Center, Pascagoula Gear Monitoring Team (GMT) inspect TEDs in otter trawl
nets on shrimp vessels in the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico for their compliance with TED regulations. The GMT with assistance from NOAA Fisheries
Southeast Regional Office’s Protected Resources Division then analyze the TED inspection data to estimate sea turtle capture rates and TED effectiveness.
In Table 1, we present April 2014 through January 2015 monthly Southeastern shrimp otter trawl fleet TED inspections , compliance, sea turtle capture rates, and
TED effectiveness. In estimating overall sea turtle capture rates and TED effectiveness, NOAA Fisheries evaluates the various types and degrees of severity of TED
violations documented and their corresponding estimated effects on small and large sea turtles. Not all TED violations have the same impact on sea turtles capture
rates. The April 18, 2014, biological opinion reviews different types of violations and associated sea turtle capture estimates and analysis methods. For more
information, please review the April 18, 2014 biological opinion, Table 15, sections 2.1.1 and 5.1.3.2.
Table 1: Monthly Southeastern Shrimp Otter Trawl Fleet TED Inspections, Compliance, Sea Turtle Capture Rates, and TED Effectiveness (April 2014-January
2015).
Month
Vessels
Inspected Vessels
Inspected
Vessels
Vessels
Overall
Overall
Overall
Overall
Inspected
Required to Have
Vessels
Inspected
Inspected
Capture
Capture
Average
TED
For TED
TEDs That Were
Required to
That Were
That Were
Rate for all
Rate for all
Sea
Effective
Compliance
Found In
Have TEDs
Found
Found NonKemps
Leatherback
Turtle
Rate
Violation (i.e.,
That Were Fully
Fully
compliant
Ridleys and
and Adult
Capture
Non-compliant
Compliant With Compliant
Juvenile
Loggerheads
Rate
with TED
TED
with TED
Loggerheads and Greens
Regulations)
Regulations
Regulations
and Greens
April 2014
May 2014
June 2014
July 2014
August 2014
October 2014
November
2014
December
2014
January 2015
50
23
7
83
48
4
11
3
2
16
6
0
39
20
5
67
42
4
78%
87%
71%
81%
88%
100%
22%
13%
29%
19%
13%
0%
10%
3%
14%
8%
7%
3%
15%
3%
14%
10%
6%
3%
12%
3%
14%
9%
6%
3%
88%
97%
86%
91%
94%
97%
15
0
15
100%
0%
3%
3%
3%
97%
6
4
1
0
5
4
83%
100%
17%
0%
11%
3%
4%
3%
8%
3%
93%
97%
entering the nets (i.e., 3 percent) still do not escape by means of the TED and are captured. However, when TEDs in nets are not constructed, installed, or operating
legally, TED effectiveness can be reduced and result in more than a 3 percent sea turtle capture rate. In severe cases, TED effectiveness can be completely
compromised (i.e., have a 100 percent sea turtle capture rate).
The April 18, 2014, biological opinion requires NOAA Fisheries to maintain monitoring and ensure compliance with TED regulations at a level that keeps overall
average sea turtle catch rates (i.e., the percent of sea turtles that do not escape via the TED and are captured) in the shrimp otter trawl fleet at or below 12 percent.
NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement and NOAA Fisheries Southeast Fishery Science Center, Pascagoula Gear Monitoring Team (GMT) inspect TEDs in otter trawl
nets on shrimp vessels in the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico for their compliance with TED regulations. The GMT with assistance from NOAA Fisheries
Southeast Regional Office’s Protected Resources Division then analyze the TED inspection data to estimate sea turtle capture rates and TED effectiveness.
In Table 1, we present April 2014 through January 2015 monthly Southeastern shrimp otter trawl fleet TED inspections , compliance, sea turtle capture rates, and
TED effectiveness. In estimating overall sea turtle capture rates and TED effectiveness, NOAA Fisheries evaluates the various types and degrees of severity of TED
violations documented and their corresponding estimated effects on small and large sea turtles. Not all TED violations have the same impact on sea turtles capture
rates. The April 18, 2014, biological opinion reviews different types of violations and associated sea turtle capture estimates and analysis methods. For more
information, please review the April 18, 2014 biological opinion, Table 15, sections 2.1.1 and 5.1.3.2.
Table 1: Monthly Southeastern Shrimp Otter Trawl Fleet TED Inspections, Compliance, Sea Turtle Capture Rates, and TED Effectiveness (April 2014-January
2015).
Month
Vessels
Inspected Vessels
Inspected
Vessels
Vessels
Overall
Overall
Overall
Overall
Inspected
Required to Have
Vessels
Inspected
Inspected
Capture
Capture
Average
TED
For TED
TEDs That Were
Required to
That Were
That Were
Rate for all
Rate for all
Sea
Effective
Compliance
Found In
Have TEDs
Found
Found NonKemps
Leatherback
Turtle
Rate
Violation (i.e.,
That Were Fully
Fully
compliant
Ridleys and
and Adult
Capture
Non-compliant
Compliant With Compliant
Juvenile
Loggerheads
Rate
with TED
TED
with TED
Loggerheads and Greens
Regulations)
Regulations
Regulations
and Greens
April 2014
May 2014
June 2014
July 2014
August 2014
October 2014
November
2014
December
2014
January 2015
50
23
7
83
48
4
11
3
2
16
6
0
39
20
5
67
42
4
78%
87%
71%
81%
88%
100%
22%
13%
29%
19%
13%
0%
10%
3%
14%
8%
7%
3%
15%
3%
14%
10%
6%
3%
12%
3%
14%
9%
6%
3%
88%
97%
86%
91%
94%
97%
15
0
15
100%
0%
3%
3%
3%
97%
6
4
1
0
5
4
83%
100%
17%
0%
11%
3%
4%
3%
8%
3%
93%
97%
