Evaluation of a modified turtle excluder device in the North Carolina summer flounder winter trawl fishery

Existing sea turtle conservation regulations stipulate that trawlers operating in Atlantic waters between Cape Charles, VA and the NC/SC border have a federally certified Turtle Excluder Device (TED) installed in all nets rigged for fishing. Since the TED requirement, industry participants have noted reduced catches of summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus) associated with the use of the compulsory small, standard flounder TED. Indeed, a previous study documented a 35% reduction in summer flounder catch when using the TED-equipped trawl. To examine catch performance of contemporary designs - a hinged flounder TED (“northeast modified”) relative to a large-frame, standard flounder TED - we conducted paired tows during the November 2009 – March 2010 season aboard a large-class, ocean trawler typical of the fleet. A 60-ft, 35 Otter trawl net with six-inch webbing in a stern rig configuration equipped with swappable net extensions was used to evaluate the two TEDs alternately. Results from an initial testing of 21 paired tows indicated no significant difference (p = 0.29) in flounder catch between TED types. Testing of a potentially more economical TED will speed design certification by the federal government and will expedite the availability of the TED for use by the commercial fishing industry.