FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 25, 2016
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Katie Smith
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Audubon Nature Institute
Awarded National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF)
Gulf Coast Conservation Grant to Increase Sea Turtle Protection
Program will reduce impacts to sea turtles through shrimp industry engagement

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(New Orleans, La.) - Audubon Nature Institute has received nearly $52,000 to work with the skimmer shrimp fishery of the Northern Gulf on sea turtle conservation. Awarded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), the grant will fund work to reduce sea turtle capture by skimmer trawls through shrimp industry engagement. Audubon received one of 18 NFWF Gulf Conservation Grants awarded to programs working to enhance coastal habitats, bolster fish and wildlife populations and strengthen resilience along the Gulf of Mexico.

The NFWF Gulf Conservation Grant Program (GCCGP) will support Audubon's sustainable seafood program, Gulf United for Lasting Fisheries (G.U.L.F.), to increase sea turtle protection by expanding the ‘Tow the Time' education campaign for shrimp fishermen. The Tow the Time Campaign focuses on educating fishermen about current tow time limits (55 minutes from April 1 to October 30 and 75 minutes from November 1 to March 31). The GCCGP builds on existing alliances and looks to build new partnerships, with major funding provided by the Shell Marine Habitat Program, Southern Company's Power of Flight Program, U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and other sources.

"This is another great example of Audubon's commitment to local conservation and working to protect endangered species," said Ron Forman, President and CEO of Audubon Nature Institute. "The focus of this grant compliments the excellent work currently being performed by Audubon's Coastal Wildlife Network, which to date has rescued and rehabilitated more than 200 endangered sea turtles from our local waters."

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, concerns arose over drastically declining sea turtle populations in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic. One of the reasons identified for sea turtle decline was mortality associated with shrimp trawls. To address these interactions, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) implemented new regulations for the shrimp fishery. Changes in the industry included turtle excluder devices (TEDs), which are installed in nets to allow endangered sea turtles to escape while shrimpers are fishing, and tow time regulations for smaller, inshore nets such as skimmers to reduce the potential for interactions. Since then, sea turtle mortality has significantly decreased and sea turtle populations are showing signs of recovery. Continued concerns about the five species of sea turtles in the Gulf necessitate increased awareness of these regulations to optimize the benefits.

"G.U.L.F. has been working with the skimmer trawl shrimp fishery in the northern Gulf of Mexico for the last several years," said Ashford Rosenberg, G.U.L.F. Outreach Manager. "Funds from NFWF's Gulf Coast Conservation Program will go toward expanding our work with fishermen by providing them with "Tow the Time" decals, which serve as visual reminders of current regulations for skimmer trawls that help limit interactions with sea turtles. This grant will also allow us to expand our work with the industry, ensuring we can inform them about current regulations and potential future regulations."

The grants will also support industry workshops that will educate fishermen on current and proposed regulations, the logistics and benefits of turtle excluder devices (TEDs), and the importance of carrying observers on their vessels.

"Gulf restoration work is reaching new levels of conservation success, benefiting both wildlife and local communities," said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF. "We are excited to build on these achievements with this latest round of Gulf grants."

G.U.L.F. was founded in 2012 in response to the need for a homegrown champion with an understanding of the issues and the ability to advocate on behalf of Gulf fisheries and seafood industry. G.U.L.F. acts as a neutral body and an arm of Audubon Nature Institute, working with government agencies, certification bodies, fishers and processors, buyers, restaurateurs, and consumers to ensure that fisheries in the region thrive for the benefit of future generations. Through education and outreach, advancement plans, and third-party assessment and certification of our fisheries, G.U.L.F. highlights what makes the region's seafood so special and encourages our fisheries to go above and beyond to meet the highest standards for responsible fisheries management.

 

Audubon Nature Institute
Audubon Nature Institute operates a family of museums, parks and research facilities dedicated to celebrating the wonders of nature. Through innovative live animal exhibits, education programs, and scientific discovery, Audubon makes a meaningful contribution to preserving wildlife for the future. Audubon Nature Institute flagships include Audubon Park, Audubon Zoo, Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, Entergy Giant Screen Theater, Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium, Audubon Louisiana Nature Center, Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Special Survival Center, Woldenberg Riverfront Park and Audubon Wilderness Park. Ron Forman is President and CEO of Audubon Nature Institute.

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