I Page IO-A?THE BRUNSWICK BEACON. Thursday, Au Local Shrim BY DOUG BUTTER Ixjcal commercial fishennen believe the picturesque vvatorfrnnt *11 Pnlnlvich nnmnlato nrith if r* leantkaenrl wvviti vuv ut vumuuijiif \.v*iiptvw mm ivo ncaui^i shrimp boats, may change in the coming years. The boats and dockside dealers may disappear, they believe, if federal regulations requiring the use of turtle excluder devices in shrimp trawls are enforced. Turtle excluder devices, commonly called TEDs, are sewn into shrimp nets just above the tailbag where shrimp are collected. They act as gates, directing turtles through an opening before they become trapped in the tailbag. Depending on the outcome of a state lawsuit and efforts at federal legislation, rules requiring these devices will take effect next month in some states and next spring in North Carolina. Ronnie Pittman of Calabash said the devices don't work and the regulations are going to put him and other shrimpers out of work. "It's disgusting," he said of the rules, which will require all large offshore shrimp boats to use the devices starting May 1, 1989. Shrimpers operating in inshore waters or from vessels less than 25 feet in length will not be reauired to Dull TEDs as lone as thev lift their nets every 90 minutes to check for turtles. "They're gonna put the trawler out of business," said Pittman, adding that shrimp farming will be the industry' of the future if the rules are strictly enforced. Jim Bahen, UNC Sea Grant marine advisory agent, agrees that the TEDs do cause shrimpers to lose a percentage of their catch. But he feels that can be changed once the devices are improved. "We're looking at something that really hasn't been tested that much," he said. "There needs to be work done on them to perfect them." Pittman, who has used turtle excluders while shrimping in South Carolina where they are now required in state waters, said the devices have caused him to lose between 50 and 90 percent of his catch. He said the cost of the TEDs, which run anywhere from $25 to $275 apiece, is nothing compared to the amount of shrimp loss. "Anytime you cut a big hole in your extension you'll lose all your catch," added Tommy Hickman of Hickman's Crossroads, a lifetime shrimper who also docks at Calabash. "TEDs is a mess." Hickman said he lias experimented with different designs but none seems to work effectively. He said he has tested nets with and without TEDs and has found no comparison. "They don't work too good. You lose over half of what you catch through them," he said. "When it shoots that turtle out it shoots the shrimp out too." In addition to the loss of shrimp, local fishermen say they lose towing time because their TEDs are constantly clogged with sea grass or other trash. They also claim the devices are not necessary in most waters in North and South Carolina. Pittman said he has caug'ni less than 25 turtles in the four years he has been shrimping and has never drowned a turtle. Hickman, who has been shrimping 33 years, said he has seen about six drowned. BCC Foundation L A new work-study program at The program \ Brunswick Community College will BCC Foundation j provide part-time employment op- 0f directors meet portunities on campus for students $3,000 for the 1988 with exceptional financial assistance study program o needs. Rescue Course Is Sche An ambulance attendants course Classes will will be taught beginning Friday, Aug. through 28 and 26, at 7 p.m., at Coastline Volunteer State testing will Rescue Squad on N.C. 130 near completion of the Holden Beach. For more ii The 40-hour course will be taught register for th by Area Emergency Medical Ser- Coastline Volunti i r* j:? ~ -k*?1 ? t-? t-i-i \ vtuca ^uuiuuidiuL mane uuciiii. twz-zzzz. rr'^'lSliJ^JljIll'J 131 i Sewage Dispo K From PERMIT APPLICATI |j||> Meeting Requirements ||L Drainage Plans H To INSTALLATION o! GONVEN W and LOW-PRESSURE SYST I Site Preparation I Pa\ ICLEARING'FILL DIRT H Spsciol TOP SOIL-GRADING I HOME DF We have just purchased a |j REPAIR Vermeer Brush Chipper Machine I <-i irdIN Chips trees up to 12" diometer H Cleoring your lot provides mulch I SMALL E If you hove o pile of wood, PARKIh we II chip away | NO BURNING! I NO JOB IS E ' X J i P 1 I | 1 ' |1 J I I i H n M ill 1 | :'" ^ ri '* 1 _ ' *** gust 18, 1988 pers Fear Wo I ,'"??? }'* *ir' '"-' "-X'iX"' '' ' . I TOMMY HICKMAN, a lifelong shrimper who docks at Calabash, says turtle excluders cause him to lose more thau half of his catch and claims they will ruin the industry. Requirements for the devices, which protect Most local shrimpers only drag their nets for about two hours, said Hickman, which usually isn't long enough a to drown a turtle. "Shrimp boats don't drown too many, t Those turtles are tough." i aunches New Work-Study vas established by separate from the college's ? at its August board federally-funded work-study pro- \ nig wiiu a gram 01 gram. * -89 year. The work- Any student with an exceptional c omplements but is financial need is eligible to apply for the BCC Foundation Work-Study Pro- c gram. Any student awarded funding c in the program must have their apjjJ. ,1^^ plication supported by a college I tUUIGCJ faculty or staff member who will [ agree to provide for and supervise j be held Aup 26 stu^ent's work experience. The < Sept. 9 through 11. Program Provides faculty and staff i I be scheduled upon lformation or to Introducing - VO e course, contact Computerized voice ser Rescue Squad at An accurate, effici answering service-AND ] OWN TELEPHONE! vjfi Right now your push button &S! you a computerized message ce Jig answering machine, answering sei the new "Voice Memo" system ITIONAL m Membership Corporation. -I.. qSjjBja Simply push one button on th fcliiO message ?you can change them often as you like. Callers will hea WB and it will come across clear and p I This is What the M< I Do For You?R S Business Ci UVEWAYS n *Send and answer messac i VVORK H *Direct messages to othei iiri/^k ir- H *Mne nrnw /1-.11 )i\]x. aa K..?uv-y ,IrV" I *Has flexibility that cann iUblNtbo through conventional on \G LOTS answering mach nes. Call Us To Subscribe / How To Use Voice Me s Will Only Take Secoi H i ATLANTIC T I|H i MEMBERSH Call today al c .. W. i. ..? - * . ? ret With TED STAFF PHOTO BY DOUG BUTTER ? endangered and threatened sea turtles from drowning in shrimp nets, take effect next May in North Carolina waters. The National Marine Fisheries Service, however, vhich will enforce the restrictions, claims that 12,000 sea 1 urtles drown each year in shrimp nets and something a leeds to be done to protect the threatened and en- > r Program ^^?1^ in opportunity to identify and superri CP QtllHpnlc urhnco finonninl V issistance needs might not be met l== To remain in the program a stu- | lent must have and maintain an " 1.ivSflWWM iverall "C" average. 5 BCC Foundation President David f Batten said the program will not only ? aw- ft jrovide financial assistance, but will ~ f jive students the "positive benefits ? HWY )f combining work with other learn- i'" ng experiences" at BCC. nee Memo messaging system ent and effective / ITS RIGHT IN YOUR ^ HOURS EVERY DAY /gjUfi Bnm ESHnDninSm!! mwYw" phone can access and provide Fj t'TB nter. There is no need for an rvice or personal secretary with offered by Atlantic Telephone . __ Aug 23e telephone dial to record your Friday, I by the hour, the day, year ?as r and respond to "your" voice, rofessionally every time. swering services or G Hwy. 17, North srnd We 11 reach You 803-272 4446*^ mo! It's Simple And nds Of Your Time. I ELEPHONE if"""'"' IIP CORP. j! jjfil I 754-4311 I !? rJM i * RpQ+rirtinnc % W I IVvhich also called for the testing of turtle excluders. Sue Waldron, spokesperson with the House Merchant Marine Fisheries Committee, said the two houses will lave to approve the same amendment before the federal equirements can be delayed. She said it will be at least lext month before a compromise can be reached. A state lawsuit filed earlier this year against the ederal government could also provide some relief from he rules. The state filed the lawsuit in April on the basis that he final set of TED rules included restrictions for inihfirP U/atorc nnrl Uiofore nnr+h r\f 'I'L~ 1 V UIIU uavvid liUi 111 Ul VLiaV.UAC. J. 11C UL l^llldl Iraft rules, according to state officials, included no eference to those waters because no data exists to ustify TED requirements in those areas. According to Bahen, however, most state officials iealing with the lawsuit feel it will either be thrown out of :ourt or a ruling will be issued in favor of the federal lovernment. Those expectations, he said, are based on he outcome of a similar lawsuit filed in Louisiana. In some respects, he said it is unfortunate the regulaions are not already in effect. He said many shrimpers rho are ignoring the impending rules for now will feel the runch next season. Bahen recommends that shrimpers experiment with 'EDs this season and be prepared when the regulations ire enforced next year. "If we've got to use them next ear we should be out there trying them right now." he Deck Supermarket! SEE OUR DISPLAY OF Decks "Walkways "Patio Squares jSr"-'. LUMBER FOR ALL BUILDING 8. DO-IT-YOURSELF NEEDS OPEN ALL DAY SATURDAY See King Freeman at... loR LUMBER CO. 17 SOUTH I SHALLOTTE / 579-8038 c <.u ?ixuuiiii i ui ii_y \ug. 26 ? Dr. Hook ? Ray Sawyer 10 PM & Midnight Shows *11 'A 1^ | h ti \LL FOR INFORMATION* Myrtle Beach, 3'/j miles south of Food Lion four favorite beverage served 7 days a week 3ne*No cover charge i ;nnn for <;pfoiai cvcmtc 99 i , w w ^ . W . -V Ml ?? Wirtu 1_ y i_ I N I J Must present coupon at door I llUJlMl tt?< Coupon expiree Wed., Aug. 24, '88 1 BB-' r^JfC J ) I