Sea Turtle Conservation; Shrimp Trawling Requirements

NMFS issues this interim final rule to amend the regulations that require most shrimp trawlers to use Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) in the southeastern Atlantic, including the Gulf of Mexico, to reduce the incidental capture of endangered and threatened sea turtles during shrimp trawling. Specifically, this interim final rule allows the use of a new design of soft TED--the Parker soft TED--subject to certain limitations. The intent of this rule is to allow shrimpers the option of using a new design of soft TED.