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Costa Rican Shrimp Fishermen Request Delay o­n US Order to Modify Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs)

PRETOMA supports the request of shrimp fishery organizations and considers the new measure to be unnecessary.

August 18, 2004 - Costa Rica
On August 6, a group of Costa Rican shrimpers representing various fishing organizations and companies sent a letter to the US State Department expressing concerns about a new mandatory modification to TEDs and requested o­ne year to test the new design in Costa Rican waters.  The modification consists of widening the hole where turtles exit the shrimp nets from 32 to 72 inches.  This modification is currently scheduled to become mandatory in Costa Rica starting September 1, 2004. 

The wider hole became mandatory for TEDs used in US waters two years ago when it was determined that old dimensions were failing to allow large turtles such as leatherbacks (Dermochelys coriacea) and loggerheads (Careta caretta) to escape from nets.  It was also suggested that a wider hole actually improves fishing operations where large amounts of unwanted bycatch enter the nets. 

However, Costa Rican fishermen do not feel the new dimensions are necessary in Costa Rica.  Nor do they believe a larger hole will improve effectiveness of fishing operations where organic debris such as tree branches and trunks get caught in the nets, a serious problem in many Costa Rican fishing grounds. 

"We firmly believe in responsible fisheries and the need to protect sea turtles," said Alvaro Moreno, President of the Chamber of Fishermen in Puntarenas, Costa Rica's largest Pacific port.  "Scientific research, in which we participated, and which has been endorsed by the US National Marine Fisheries Service show that the TEDs we are using here already allow 97% of captured sea turtles to escape from the nets, therefore we fail to see the need for a wider hole.  Moreno also adds, "The studies done here were a great achievement for conservation and are recognized internationally."

"Any measure that could affect productivity of our fishing operations must be carefully evaluated before being implemented," explained Gerardo Marin, President of the Independent Union of Shrimp Fishermen.  "We have a great deal of biological debris here in the Costa Rican fishing grounds and a wider hole could seriously affect our shrimp catch.  It's necessary to test the new design before demanding its implementation."

"The wider hole is not necessary in Costa Rica," explained Jorge Ballestero of PRETOMA.  "Leatherbacks are not captured during shrimp fishing operations in Costa Rica and we don't even have loggerhead turtles here, so the new modification will not save more sea turtles."

"Any measure should always be based o­n the best scientific information available," says Randall Arauz of PRETOMA.  "What we do know is that the TED currently in use effectively protects sea turtles.  But we have no idea how a wider hole will function under the difficult fishing conditions of Costa Rica.  We believe that the Costa Rican shrimp fishermen have the right to request tests of the larger hole before its use becomes mandatory.  However, if it's determined that the modification actually improves fishing operations, I'm sure it will be readily accepted by the Costa Rican fishermen."

The Chamber of Puntarenas Fishermen, the Independent Union of Shrimp Fishermen, the Costa Rican Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture (INCOPESCA), and PRETOMA are studying the effectiveness of various TED designs, in particular the new wider hole modification and will use results of the studies to make recommendations for improving the Costa Rican shrimp fishery.  The studies are financed by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the Foundation AVINA.

"Gathering scientific data with the collaboration of all sectors is the best way to handle the situation and ensure that the shrimp fishing activities and sea turtle conservation go hand in hand," says Arauz.