The Experiments on Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) for Shrimp Trawl Nets in Thailand.

Abstract

The U.S. shrimp import embargo that went into effect on 1st May, 1996, stipulates that fishing methods used in shrimp capture in harvesting countries should inflict no harm on marine turtles. To comply with these conditions the Training Department and the Marine fisheries Resources Development and Management Department, both departments of SEAFDEC, together with SEAFDEC member countries, conducted a series of experiments and trials to develops a suitable Turtle Excluder Device (TED) for use in shrimp trawls in Southeast Asian Countries. To find a regionally acceptable turtle protector, a study tour was made to observe the various devices in use in both the U.S. and Mexico.