FishSource

Alabama shrimp - small bottom trawl/skimmer nets (FIP)

Status: Completed

FIP Lead: Audubon Nature Institute G.U.L.F. (ANIG)

Stock Profile Link
Northern brown shrimp - Northern Gulf of Mexico
Northern white shrimp - Northern Gulf of Mexico

Comments:

The FIP achieved certification through the Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM) Certificate Program in July 2024.

https://rfmcertification.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/CSC-RFM-Fishery-Certificate-U.S.-Gulf-of-Mexico-shrimp-July-2024.pdf

1. FIP Development	Dec 16	Fishery assessment or scoping document made public 15 December 2016 — Assessment report available 15 August 2015 — Benchmarking report completed (confidential)
2. FIP Launch	Dec 16	Confirmation of project participants 15 December 2016 — FIP participants confirmed
2. FIP Launch	Dec 16	Workplan made public 15 December 2016 — Workplan made public
3. FIP Implementation	Jul 21	FIP activities undertaken 1 July 2021 — Ongoing Saltonstall-Kennedy funded bycatch characterization project project; this project was implemented in 2021. The project team has worked to recruit vessels selected for an observer to store the unidentified portion of the catch and to arrange the transportation of samples with Gulf shrimp processors. 1 December 2019 — Gear checks continued through 2019 on 12 vessels; compliance with TED and BRD regulations requires ongoing maintenance to ensure that bycatch is minimized. 1 December 2019 — G.U.L.F. and Louisiana Sea Grant developed outreach materials to increase awareness and compliance with current tow time regulations for skimmer trawls. 1 December 2019 — G.U.L.F. has developed a survey for shrimp fishermen to fill out in order to capture more information about bycatch in the shrimp fishery and voluntary use of bycatch reduction devices. 27 February 2019 — Participants agree to work with skimmer vessel captains to ensure that tow times are strictly adhered to unless skimmer nets have TEDs installed. 3 January 2019 — Gear evaluations continued during 2019 1 July 2018 — GULF participated in a meeting to develop solutions to certification challenges regarding federal bycatch data 1 January 2017 — All participants participated in public Comment meeting for proposed rule requiring TEDs in skimmer trawls. 30 December 2016 — MAP Committee memebrs working on encourage tow time compliance until new rule is finalized. (NOAA published a Draft EIS and proposed rule to eliminate tow times and require TEDs in skimmers, butterfly, and wing nets)
4. Improvements in Fishing Practices and Fishery Management	Dec 19	Verifiable improvement in policy/management and fishing practices 1 December 2019 — In December 2019, a rule was finalized requiring TEDs in skimmer trawl vessels 40’ and over. The definition of tow times (which remain an alternative to TEDs in vessels under 40’) was also updated. 15 June 2018 — Gear inspection voluntarily conducted on shrimp vessels - with most vessels in full compliance between May- June 2018. Vessel with most non-compliance addressed.
5. Improvements on the Water	—	Verifiable improvement on the water
6. MSC certification (optional)	Jul 24	MSC certificate made public 11 July 2024 — The FIP achieved certification through the Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM) Certificate Program in July 2024.