NOAA Awards More than $1 Million to the Gulf and South Atlantic Fisheries Foundation for Shrimping Research

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration granted $1,088,964 to the Gulf and South Atlantic Fisheries Foundation to research new turtle excluder devices. NOAA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The grant will fund testing to determine the shrimp-retention of the newly required, larger opening TEDs, and will evaluate modifications to this TED in an attempt to improve shrimp-retention without reducing the ability of turtle escapement. Shrimp-retention will be tested against the currently approved inshore TED and against modifications made to the existing large opening TED configuration.

“Funding from this NOAA grant will provide fishery managers with the information they need to balance turtle safety and yields as high as possible for shrimpers,” said retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “This grant allows the shrimp fisheries to manage their coastal resources and supports NOAA’s and the Bush Administration’s commitment to the environment.”

Each year, NOAA awards approximately $900 million in grants to members of the academic, scientific and business communities to assist the agency in fulfilling its mission to study the Earth’s natural systems in order to predict environmental change, manage ocean resources, protect life and property, and provide decision makers with reliable scientific information. NOAA’s goals and programs reflect a commitment to these basic responsibilities of science and service to the nation for the past 34 years.

NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation’s coastal and marine resources .To learn more about NOAA, please visit: http://www.noaa.gov.