I
Page IO-A?THE BRUNSWICK BEACON. Thursday, Au
Local Shrim
BY DOUG BUTTER
Ixjcal commercial fishennen believe the picturesque
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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
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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
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gust 18, 1988
pers Fear Wo
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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
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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
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Aug 23e
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"When it shoots that turtle
out it shoots the shrimp out
too."
?Tommy Hickman
Commercial shrimper
iangered creatures.
According to Bahen, the six turtle excluder designs
low accepted by the NMFS have just been developed in
:he past few years and have not been tested and modified
:nough to please both shrimpers and environmentalists.
"These devices that we've got to use are like antique
;ars, ne aaaea. Tney re Uie first ones on the market
and there are bugs to be worked out."
Although it now appears shrimpers will be forced to
full the devices in North Carolina waters starting next
May, Congress could release fishermen from having to
bllow the turtle excluder restrictions while trawling inshore.
Last month, the U.S. Senate passed an amendment to
he Endangered Species Act which would delay imilementation
of TED restrictions in inshore waters until
Vlay 1, 1990. That amendment also requires research on
:ndangered sea turtles and reasons for population
ieclines.
In December, the House of Representatives passed a
similar amendment to delay the inshore requirements
>vhich 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
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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."
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