NMFS issues this temporary rule for a period of 30 days, to allow shrimp fishermen to use limited tow times as an alternative to Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) in state and Federal waters offshore of Texas (from the Texas/Louisiana boundary southward to the boundary shared by Matagorda and Brazoria Counties; approximately 95[deg] 32'W. long.) extending offshore 20 nautical miles. This action is necessary because environmental conditions resulting from Hurricane Ike are preventing some fishermen from using TEDs effectively.