Louisiana Sea Grant Co-hosts Turtle Excluder Devices Compliance Workshops, Saved Commercial Fishermen $120,000 in Potential Fines

May 24, 2022

Gary Graham shows shrimp fisherman how to inspect the TED on his trawl net. Photo credit: Texas Sea Grant

Turtle excluder devices (TEDs) are required by law on all shrimp fishing vessels to reduce negative impacts on endangered species. Louisiana Sea Grant and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Gear Management Team provide hands on voluntary training for crew members to gain more knowledge about TEDs, how they are to be constructed, how to check and measure them, and how to assist others in fixing any discrepancies.

During these annual workshops, 30 to 40 shrimp boats with approximately 100 to 120 TEDs are checked for compliance. Most vessels reported no issues. In 2017, only three shrimp boats had minor issues with their turtle exclusion devices. Corrections of these issues on vessels through this workshop saved commercial fishing vessel owners $120,000 in potential fines.

American Lobster

Sea Grant’s American Lobster Initiative awards $5.4 million to further innovative research and outreach in support of the lobster industry and fishing communities

Since 2019, Sea Grant’s American Lobster Initiative has addressed critical knowledge gaps about the American lobster and its fishery facing a dynamic and changing environment. The Initiative supports a regional extension program in the Northeast and a national research competition. Fifteen emerging research projects were selected in 2023 and 2024 for $4.6 million in federal funding by the NOAA National Sea Grant College Program. Coordinated by Maine Sea Grant since 2019, the Northeast lobster extension program was recently renewed with an $840,000 federal award that supports work through 2026.

Sea Grant announces $987, 361 to fund 2024 Young Fishermen’s Career Development projects

Sea Grant announces $987, 361 to fund 2024 Young Fishermen’s Career Development projects Today, NOAA’s National Sea Grant Office is pleased to announce the selection

Sea Grant welcomes 2025 Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship finalists

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Sea Grant College Program is thrilled to announce the finalists for the 2025 class of the Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship. This year, for the first time in program history, all eligible Sea Grant programs are represented by a diverse cohort of 88 early-career professionals who will spend the next year working alongside federal agencies or legislative offices in Washington, D.C., applying their academic expertise to critical marine, coastal and Great Lakes policy issues.