Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 391-2-4-.05 - Shrimp Trawl Gear Specifications. Requirement for Use of Turtle Excluder Devices
(1)
Purpose. The purpose of these Rules is to implement the authority
of the Board of Natural Resources to promulgate rules and regulations to
regulate the times, methods, ways, means, and devices of taking wildlife which
are necessary to protect threatened and endangered sea turtles in state
waters.
(2) Definitions.
(a) "Qualified turtle excluder device" or
"TED" means a device approved by the National Marine Fisheries Service, and
described in 50 C.F.R. Section 272.72(e)(4)(ii)(A)-(F), or any additional
device approved by the National Marine Fisheries Service pursuant to 50 C.F.R.
Section 272.72(e)(4)(iii).
(b)
"Headrope length" means the straightline length of that portion of the top rope
of the trawl net from which the net is hung measured between the outermost
hanging points.
(c) "Perimeter"
means the opening or entrance to the trawl formed and limited by attachment of
the net mesh to line, which line is securely attached so as to form a
continuous perimeter around the leading edge of the net. The perimeter so
formed is measured from point to point along the line forming the leading edge
of the net.
(3) Vessels
Required to Use Turtle Excluder Devices.
(a)
All shrimp trawlers which trawl for shrimp consumption in Georgia's sound
pursuant to O.C.G.A.
27-4-133 must have a qualified
turtle excluder device in each net. In addition, all shrimp trawlers which
trawl for shrimp for human consumption pursuant to O.C.G.A.
27-4-133 in Georgia's offshore
waters, seaward of the sounds and south of 31°20' North latitude, must have
a qualified turtle excluder device installed in each trawl net during trawling
operations during 1 April through 31 December of each year. Shrimp trawlers
which trawl for shrimp for human consumption in Georgia's offshore waters,
seaward of the sounds and north of 31°20' North latitude, must use a
qualified TED in each net during the period 1 April through 30 November of each
year.
(4) Exemptions.
(a) Vessels using a single net having a
headrope length of 30 feet or less and a perimeter around the leading edge of
the net not greater than 82 feet are exempt from the TED requirement.
(b) A single test net, commonly referred to
as a trynet, having a headrope length of 20 feet or less is exempt from the TED
requirement provided that such net is pulled immediately in front of another
net and is not connected to another net in any way.
(c) A trawl being used as part of a public or
private experimentation authorized by the Director, Southeast Region, National
Marine Fisheries Service, as provided in 50 C.G.R. Section 227.72(e)(4)(iv) and
permitted according to O.C.G.A. Section
27-2-12 is exempt from the TED
requirement provided written authorization shall be maintained aboard the
shrimp trawler with such a trawl at all times.
Notes
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