Recent Regulations to Protect Marine Turtles

2012

Final Rule: Revised Limits on Sea Turtle Interactions in Hawaii Shallow-set Longline Fishery
(77 FR 60637, October 4, 2012)
- NMFS revised the annual limits on incidental interactions that may occur between the fishery and leatherback (to 26) and North Pacific loggerhead sea turtles (to 34). If the fishery reaches either of the interaction limits in a given year, NMFS would close the fishery for the remainder of that year.
  
  NMFS also made minor housekeeping changes to the longline regulations for clarity and consistency in terminology. NMFS revised references to the "shallow-set component of the longline fishery" to simply "shallow-set longline fishery."
  
  The sections of Title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations that contain these changes include: §665.802 paragraphs (ss) and (tt) and §665.813 paragraphs (b)(2)(i), (b)(2)(ii), and (i).
Final Rule: NMFS revises the turtle excluder device (TED) requirements to allow the use of new materials and to modify existing approved TED designs
(77 FR 29905, May 21, 2012)
- Summary of Revisions to TED Requirements: this rule allows--
  - using 1/4 inch (0.63 cm) thick and 1 1/2 inch (3.8 cm) deep flat bar, and rectangular and oval pipe meeting the current minimum dimensions as construction materials in currently-approved TED grids cited at 50 CFR 223.207(a)(1):
    - Solid steel rod with a minimum outside diameter of 1/4 inch (0.64 cm)
    - Fiberglass or aluminum rod with a minimum outside diameter of 1/2 inch (1.27 cm)
    - Steel or aluminum tubing with a minimum outside diameter of 1/2 inch (1.27 cm) and a minimum wall thickness of 1/8 inch (0.32 cm) (also known as schedule 40 tubing)
  - increasing maximum mesh size on escape flaps from 1 5/8 to 2 inches (4.1 to 5.1 cm)
  - including the Boone Big Boy TED for use in the shrimp fisheries
  - using three large TED and Boone Wedge Cut escape openings
  - using the Chauvin Shrimp Deflector in a top-opening TED configuration to improve shrimp retention
  - using a horizontal brace bar on a TED to increase the strength of the grid and prevent flexing of the vertical deflector bars
  - using the modified founder TED in the summer founder fishery
  - corrects an error regarding the maximum size chain that can be used on the Parker TED escape opening flap
Proposed Rule: NMFS proposes to withdraw the alternative tow time restriction and require turtle excluder devices (TEDs) for all skimmer trawls, pusher-head trawls, and wing nets (butterfly trawls)
(77 FR 27411, May 10, 2012)
- Correction to Proposed Rule to correct the time for the public hearing to be held in Larose, LA (from 4-6 on June 4, 2012 to 6-8 on June 4, 2012)
- Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) to reduce incidental bycatch and mortality to sea turtles in Southeastern U.S. Shrimp Fisheries
Notice: Annual Determination for Sea Turtle Observer Requirement
(77 FR 474, January 5, 2012)
- More Information on the Annual Determination