Sea Turtle Conservation; Shrimp Trawling Requirements

NMFS issues this temporary action to allow the use of limited tow times by shrimp trawlers as an alternative to the use of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) in the waters off Mississippi in an area from the coastline of Mississippi at its intersection with the line of longitude 89[deg] 30' W., thence southward to its intersection with the line of latitude 30[deg] 10' N., thence eastward to the line of longitude 89[deg] 05.5' W. (approximately even with the southern tip of Cat Island), thence northward to the line of latitude 30[deg] 13.8' N. (approximately even with the western tip of Cat Island), thence westward to the line of longitude 89[deg] 10' W., thence northward to its intersection with the coastline of Mississippi, thence continuing along the coastline to the original point. This action would remain in effect for a period of 20 days and is necessary to relieve the economic hardship on shrimpers while ensuring adequate protection of threatened and endangered sea turtles.