WASHINGTON, June 23, 2012 — The Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration (Advocacy) believes that further analysis of the economic impacts of various alternatives to the proposed rule, as well as further study of the impact shrimping activities have on sea turtle populations, are warranted before NOAA finalizes new sea turtle conservation rules.
Advocacy has submitted comments to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) regarding its proposed sea turtle conservation rule to require the use of turtle excluder devices in the nets of all skimmer trawls, pusher-head trawls, and wing nets rigged for shrimp fishing.
Through a series of regional roundtables and meetings, Advocacy has conducted extensive outreach with small businesses operating in the southeastern U.S. shrimp fisheries that are concerned that the proposed rule will cause significant economic harm to the already fragile shrimping industry in the Gulf of Mexico. Advocacy believes that further analysis of the economic impacts of various alternatives to the proposed rule, as well as further study of the impact shrimping activities have on sea turtle populations, are warranted before NOAA finalizes new sea turtle conservation rules.