Mobile, Alabama – A lawsuit filed by the Louisiana Shrimp Association on Wednesday may have wide-ranging implications for shrimping practices along the Gulf Coast. The suit targets the National Marine Fisheries Service of the Biden Administration over a new rule that requires skimmer trawl vessels to use Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) in inshore waters.
James Baehr, Chief Litigator for the Pelican Institute, explains that the current rule only applies to shrimp boats that are 40 feet or longer, but the Louisiana Shrimp Association is concerned that smaller boats may also be required to use TEDs in the future. TEDs are circular metal devices that prevent turtles from being caught in shrimp nets.
While some shrimpers believe TEDs are necessary to protect turtles, others, like Matthew Noel of Mobile Bay, argue that they are unnecessary in certain areas and negatively impact their shrimp catch. Noel, who has been shrimping in Mobile Bay for many years, claims that there are no turtles in the area due to the muddy conditions. Nonetheless, shrimpers are still required by law to use TEDs.
The use of TEDs has mixed consequences for shrimpers. While they prevent the accidental capture of turtles, they also catch other objects like gaff poles and crabbing cages, which reduces the amount of shrimp caught. This, in turn, lowers shrimpers’ income. According to lawyers from the Pelican Institute, studies have shown that shrimpers could face revenue losses ranging from $9.4 million to $44 million in the first year if the rule requiring TEDs is enforced.
The lawsuit argues that the economic impact on struggling shrimpers was not adequately considered by the National Marine Fisheries Service. The plaintiffs claim that there is little interaction between sea turtles and inshore shrimping, further questioning the necessity of the TEDs.
However, shrimpers like Noel emphasize that the challenges they face extend beyond the TEDs. Factors such as fuel prices and low shrimp prices have greatly affected their livelihoods, leading to a decline in the number of active shrimping boats in Mobile Bay.
It should be noted that the lawsuit, although filed in Louisiana, has implications for shrimpers in Mississippi, Alabama, and North Carolina as well. The outcome of the case could significantly impact shrimping regulations and practices along the Gulf Coast.