Recent Regulations to Protect Marine Turtles

2012

• Final Rule: NMFS revises the turtle excluder device (TED) requirements to allow the use of new materials and to modify existing approved TED designs
  • 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)
  » Open for comment through 07/09/2012
  • 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
  • Public Hearings:
    • Morehead City, NC: May 30, 2012, 2-4 p.m.
    • Larose, LA: June 4, 2012, 6-8 p.m. (corrected time)
    • Belle Chasse, LA: June 5, 2012, 4-6 p.m.
    • D'Iberville, MS: June 6, 2012, 4-6 p.m.
    • Bayou La Batre, AL: June 13, 2012, 2-4 p.m.
  
  
  
• Notice: Annual Determination for Sea Turtle Observer Requirement
  (77 FR 474, January 5, 2012)
  • More Information on the Annual Determination

2011

• Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Sea Turtle Conservation and Recovery Actions and To Conduct Public Scoping Meetings
  (76 FR 37050, June 24, 2011)
  • Scoping Document [pdf]
    Scoping Meetings were held in July 2011.
• Petition accepted to revise critical habitat off the coast of Puerto Rico
  (76 FR 25660, May 5, 2011)

2010

• Sea Turtle Observer Requirement Annual Determination for 2011 [pdf]
  (75 FR 81201, December 27, 2010)
  • More Information on the Annual Determination
  
  
  
• Sea Turtle Observer Requirement Annual Determination for 2010 [pdf]
  (75 FR 27649, May 18, 2010)
  • More Information on the Annual Determination
  
  
  
• NMFS & USFWS Propose to List 9 Distinct Population Segments (DPSs) of Loggerhead Sea Turtles Under the ESA; Open for Public Comment Until 06/14/2010 [pdf]
  (75 FR 12598, March 16, 2010)

2009

• NMFS Will Prepare an EIS for Sea Turtle Conservation and Recovery in Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Trawl Fisheries and Will Conduct Public Scoping Meetings [pdf]
  (74 FR 21627, May 8, 2009)
  • Scoping Document [pdf]

2008

• NMFS Implements Inspection Program in VA Pound Net Fishery [pdf]
  (73 FR 68348, November 18, 2008)
  
  
• Final Rule Regarding a Modified Sea Scallop Dredge to Protect Sea Turtles [pdf]
  (73 FR 18984, April 8, 2008)

2007

• Final Rule on Observer Requirement for Fisheries to Monitor Sea Turtle Bycatch [pdf]
  (72 FR 43176, August 3, 2007)
  
  
• Proposed Rule to Implement an Inspection Program in the Virginia Pound Net Fishery [pdf]
  (72 FR 9297, March 1, 2007)
  
  
• Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Possible Amendments to Turtle Excluder Device (TED) Regulations [pdf]
  (72 FR 7382, February 15, 2007)
  • Comment Period Extended
    (72 FR 12749, March 19, 2007)
    
    
• Proposed Rule to Clarify the Process for Closing Drift Gillnet Fisheries to Protect Sea Turtles [pdf]
  (72 FR 4225, January 30, 2007)

2006

• Proposed Observer Requirement for Fisheries to Monitor Sea Turtle Bycatch to Monitor Sea Turtle Bycatch [pdf]
  (71 FR 76265, December 20, 2006)
• Sea Scallop Dredge Gear Modification final rule [pdf]
  (71 FR 50361, August 25, 2006)
  • Correction of Sea Scallop Chain Mat Final Rule [pdf]
    (71 FR 66466, November 15, 2006)
• Virginia Pound Net final rule [pdf]
  (71 FR 36024, June 23, 2006)

2005

• Sea Scallop Dredge Gear Modification proposed rule [pdf]
  (70 FR 30660, May 27, 2005)

2004

• Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery - Notice of decision on petition for emergency rulemaking [pdf]
  (69 FR 63498, November 2, 2004)
  
  
• Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Pelagic Longline final rule [pdf]
  (69 FR 40734, July 6, 2004)
  
  
• TED Double Cover Flap Modification final rule [pdf]
  (69 FR 31035, June 2, 2004)
  
  
• Virginia Pound Net final rule [pdf]
  (69 FR 24997, May 5, 2004)
  
  
• Western Pacific HMS Pelagic Longline final rule [pdf]
  (69 FR 17329, April 2, 2004)
  
  
• California Pelagic Longline final rule [pdf]
  (69 FR 11540, March 11, 2004)

2003

• California/Oregon Drift Gillnet final rule [pdf]
  (68 FR 69962, December 16, 2003)
  
  
• 12-Month Finding on a Petition to List the Northern and Florida Panhandle Loggerhead Sea Turtle Subpopulations as Endangered [pdf]
  (68 FR 53947, September 15, 2003)
  
  
• TED Opening final rule [pdf]
  (68 FR 8456, February 21, 2003)

2002

• Virginia/North Carolina Large Mesh Gillnet final rule [pdf]
  (67 FR 71895, December 3, 2002)
  
  
• Pamlico Sound Gillnet final rule [pdf]
  (67 FR 56931, September 6, 2002)

Updated: June 13, 2012