344
The Biology of Sea Turtles, Vol. II
13.4.2 L EATHERBACK C ONSERVATION
Leatherback turtles, Dermochelys coriacea , are the largest of the sea turtles and lead
a pelagic, mostly oceanic existence. Most of the animals in coastal waters are too
large to fit through TED openings. Strandings of leatherbacks along the southeast
U.S. coast predictably occur in the winter and spring, and shrimp trawling was linked
to the episodic events (Department of Commerce, 1995). In response NMFS, in
cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the states of South Carolina,
Georgia, and Florida, developed a leatherback conservation plan for the southeast
U.S. Atlantic coast (Department of Commerce, 1995), establishing a framework for
short-term closures. This and subsequent rules made it illegal for shrimp trawlers to
operate January–June in zones identified as having a high concentration of leatherbacks, unless the trawls were equipped with TEDs capable of excluding leatherback
turtles. NMFS approved modifications to several TED designs that would allow
leatherback turtles to escape the trawls. Since adopting the plan, NMFS also has
required the large-opening leatherback TEDs during times of high strandings outside
the conservation area (Spring, 2000 off Texas) or conservation time (December 1999
and December 2001 off northeast Florida). NMFS is considering requiring the leatherback TED modifications at more times and in more areas (Department of Commerce, 2000).
13.4.3 E XEMPTIONS
There have been a number of exemptions granted to TED requirements; all but one
were temporary. When tropical storms have battered the southeastern U.S. coast and
afterwards a significant amount of debris washed downstream into coastal waters,
NMFS granted a reprieve from TEDs because debris can clog a TED making the
escape of turtles difficult or impossible. The exemptions allowed fishermen to substitute limited tow times for TEDs.
A small area of live bottom off central North Carolina is a productive area for
shrimp trawling by local fishermen. When macroalgae on the reef are dense, detached
marine algae clog the TEDs. NMFS has granted an extended exemption from TEDs
in this area, allowing tow times to be used in lieu of TEDs. The area is easily policed
from the beach and enforcement is handled by the state; compliance has been high
(North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries*).
13.4.4 TED S IN O THER F ISHERIES
Bottom trawls are used in other fisheries and where those fisheries overlap with turtles,
turtles also are captured. Since 1992 TEDs have been required in the winter trawl fishery
for summer flounder, Paralichthys dentatus, while operating between Cape Charles,
Virginia and the North Carolina–South Carolina border (Department of Commerce,
1992a). Data collected November 1991–February 1992 showed that the fishery incidentally captured significant numbers of turtles ( > 1000) during the turtles’ seasonal southward migration along the Atlantic coast of the U.S. (Epperly et al., 1995b). The National
* North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries. Unpublished annual reports to NMFS for incidental
take permit no. 1008. P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, N.C. 28557.
1123 book.book Page 344 Thursday, November 14, 2002 11:50 AM
The Biology of Sea Turtles, Vol. II
13.4.2 L EATHERBACK C ONSERVATION
Leatherback turtles, Dermochelys coriacea , are the largest of the sea turtles and lead
a pelagic, mostly oceanic existence. Most of the animals in coastal waters are too
large to fit through TED openings. Strandings of leatherbacks along the southeast
U.S. coast predictably occur in the winter and spring, and shrimp trawling was linked
to the episodic events (Department of Commerce, 1995). In response NMFS, in
cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the states of South Carolina,
Georgia, and Florida, developed a leatherback conservation plan for the southeast
U.S. Atlantic coast (Department of Commerce, 1995), establishing a framework for
short-term closures. This and subsequent rules made it illegal for shrimp trawlers to
operate January–June in zones identified as having a high concentration of leatherbacks, unless the trawls were equipped with TEDs capable of excluding leatherback
turtles. NMFS approved modifications to several TED designs that would allow
leatherback turtles to escape the trawls. Since adopting the plan, NMFS also has
required the large-opening leatherback TEDs during times of high strandings outside
the conservation area (Spring, 2000 off Texas) or conservation time (December 1999
and December 2001 off northeast Florida). NMFS is considering requiring the leatherback TED modifications at more times and in more areas (Department of Commerce, 2000).
13.4.3 E XEMPTIONS
There have been a number of exemptions granted to TED requirements; all but one
were temporary. When tropical storms have battered the southeastern U.S. coast and
afterwards a significant amount of debris washed downstream into coastal waters,
NMFS granted a reprieve from TEDs because debris can clog a TED making the
escape of turtles difficult or impossible. The exemptions allowed fishermen to substitute limited tow times for TEDs.
A small area of live bottom off central North Carolina is a productive area for
shrimp trawling by local fishermen. When macroalgae on the reef are dense, detached
marine algae clog the TEDs. NMFS has granted an extended exemption from TEDs
in this area, allowing tow times to be used in lieu of TEDs. The area is easily policed
from the beach and enforcement is handled by the state; compliance has been high
(North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries*).
13.4.4 TED S IN O THER F ISHERIES
Bottom trawls are used in other fisheries and where those fisheries overlap with turtles,
turtles also are captured. Since 1992 TEDs have been required in the winter trawl fishery
for summer flounder, Paralichthys dentatus, while operating between Cape Charles,
Virginia and the North Carolina–South Carolina border (Department of Commerce,
1992a). Data collected November 1991–February 1992 showed that the fishery incidentally captured significant numbers of turtles ( > 1000) during the turtles’ seasonal southward migration along the Atlantic coast of the U.S. (Epperly et al., 1995b). The National
* North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries. Unpublished annual reports to NMFS for incidental
take permit no. 1008. P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, N.C. 28557.
1123 book.book Page 344 Thursday, November 14, 2002 11:50 AM