Reporting of Sea Turtle Entanglement in Fishing Gear or Marine Debris - written reports

Greater Atlantic Region Sea Turtle Disentanglement Network (STDN)

Sea Turtle Disentanglement Guidelines

Initial Observation and Report

1. When the initial observer reports an entangled sea turtle, collect the following information:

   1. Observer name and phone number*

   2. Name of observing vessel

   3. Type of vessel, e.g., fishing, private, ferry, etc.

   4. Observing vessel cell phone number and/or radio call channel

   5. Date and time of initial observation

   6. Date and time of report, if different

   7. Location, including latitude / longitude and locality details

   8. Description of turtle for species identification

   9. Condition of turtle- alive or dead- and how condition was determined

   10. Description of entangling gear (rope, line, buoys, colors)

   11. Entangling gear configuration on turtle (head, flippers, single wrap, multiple wraps)

   12. Description of any visible injuries

   13. Weather/sea conditions at the scene

* NOTE: if the initial observer is not the reporting party (i.e., the observer relayed information through the reporting party), please collect name and contact information for the reporting party, as well.

2. Ask the reporting party the following questions:

1. Are you still on scene with the turtle? If not, when was it last seen?

2. How long can you stand by?

3. Can you stand by until an authorized disentanglement responder arrives? Provide caller with an estimate for how long it will take for a responder to arrive on scene.

4. Are there other vessels nearby that could help stand by if needed?

5. Does the turtle appear to be anchored or making way? If making way, can you estimate its swimming speed and direction?

6. Can you take photographs and video of the turtle and the gear?

NOTE: It is the recommendation of NOAA Fisheries Service (NMFS) that a trained and authorized member of the STDN respond to entangled sea turtles. However, if a STDN member is unable to respond in a timely manner, some federally-permitted fishermen are authorized to do so through their Fishery Management Plan’s Endangered Species Act Section 7 consultation and associated biological opinion. The biological opinions for the following fisheries provides authorization for sea turtle disentanglement: American lobster; monkfish; Northeast multispecies; spiny dogfish; Northeast skate complex; mackerel/squid/butterfish; summer flounder/scup/black sea bass; Atlantic bluefish, and Atlantic sea scallop. Fishermen must still comply with all applicable regulations, including the sea turtle handling and resuscitation requirements. No other federally-permitted fishermen are authorized to disentangle sea turtles. Every sea turtle entanglement event must be reported to NMFS and must receive a Sea Turtle Entanglement Report Form.

Reporting to NMFS, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office (GARFO)

Please report entanglement events to the GARFO stranding and entanglement hotline at 866-755-6622 or to the U.S. Coast Guard on VHF Channel 16. GARFO must be notified prior to on-water disentanglement response.

Response

1. Approach

1. Avoid any line or gear in the water near the turtle.

2. Approach turtle slowly and carefully until the vessel is alongside, then stop the vessel, putting the engine in neutral.

3. Record the latitude / longitude and time when you arrive at the turtle’s location.

2. Assessment

Note the following information in order to devise an appropriate plan of action for close approach and disentanglement.

1. Is the turtle moving, attempting to swim away from the vessel, or diving?

2. Does the turtle appear to be anchored or dragging the gear?

3. How often does the turtle surface?

4. Does it surface in a consistent direction?

5. How is the turtle entangled: flippers, head, or shell?

6. Identify the anchoring line, i.e. the line attached to the gear on the bottom.

7. Are there single or multiple wraps of line on the turtle?

8. Are the wraps restricting the turtle’s movement?

9. Are there any wounds associated with the entanglement? How serious are these injuries?

10. Take pictures and video of the turtle entangled in gear.

3. Disentanglement: The goal is to release the turtle free of all gear.

SAFETY NOTES

• Do not get into the water with the turtle. Work from the vessel with the turtle in the water.

• Wear gloves to protect your hands.

• Be careful around powerful flippers, jaws, and claws.

• Leave the engine in neutral throughout disentanglement efforts.

1. Use a grapple or boat hook to reach the anchoring line. Maintain a firm hold or cleat the line to the vessel in order to keep the turtle in close proximity without lifting it above the water. Holding this line also eases the weight of the gear on the turtle.

2. Try to unravel the gear from the turtle without cutting.

3. If the gear cannot be removed by unraveling, try to cut the line to free the turtle.

4. Avoid cutting the turtle by pulling line away from the turtle with a boat hook or your hands before cutting.

5. Cut the anchoring line LAST.

6. If active gear must be cut to free a turtle, attempt to reattach the cut ends so as to leave the gear intact on site. If reattachment is not possible, try to collect all of the gear. Try to avoid creating derelict gear by leaving partial gear or bottom gear without a surface buoy. Save all cut / removed gear for analysis (see Documentation).

7. If you cannot free the turtle of all gear, report the last known location, including latitude / longitude and locality details, wind and current speed and direction, and any identifying characteristics about the turtle or gear. Report this information to the GARFO stranding and disentanglement hotline at 866-755-6622 or to the U.S. Coast Guard on VHF Channel 16.

4. Release

1. Leave engine in neutral and release the turtle from the last line (the anchoring line).

2. Observe the turtle’s behavior after release. Did it dive and/or swim away or did it remain relatively immobile at the surface?

3. Record the latitude / longitude and time of release.

4. Ensure that the turtle is safely away from the vessel before putting the engine in gear.

5. Documentation

1. The Sea Turtle Entanglement Report Form (STERF) must be filled out for every reported entanglement event. Every effort should be made to immediately submit the STERF to NMFS.

2. Gear Collection

   • Unless otherwise authorized, gear should only be collected if it is not actively fishing (i.e., only collect derelict, incomplete or displaced gear).

   • Do not create derelict gear by collecting surface buoys, thereby leaving bottom gear unmarked.

   • Gear collected from endangered or threatened sea turtles requires a Chain of Custody form.

   • Every effort should be made to send gear immediately with the chain-of-custody form to the NMFS GARFO gear team.

   • If gear is not collected, please document all identifiable features (e.g., buoy colors, line colors, traps / pots, ID numbers) with photos.

3. Photo or Video Documentation

   • Photos and video should be sent to NMFS, ideally at the same time as submission of the STERF.

   • The following list indicates the photos that should be taken during each entanglement event

     • The sea turtle in the entangling gear, showing overall gear configuration and confirming species;

     • Close-ups of the entanglement site(s), showing any injuries and detailed gear configuration; and

     • Any identifiable features of the gear, e.g., buoy color, tags and/or numbers.

NMFS CONTACT INFORMATION:

Electronic submission of photos, video and STERFs (preferred means of submission):

Kate.Sampson@noaa.gov

Mailing address:

NOAA Fisheries Service, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, Protected Resources Division

55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930

Fax: 978-281-9394

Photos, video, STERFs, and/or biopsy samples: Attn: Kate Sampson, Sea Turtle Disentanglement Coordinator

Gear with chain of custody forms: Attn: David Morin, Atlantic Entanglement Response Program

Please address any questions to:

Ph: 978-282-8470, Kate.Sampson@noaa.gov

The collection of information on sea turtle entanglement is necessary to ensure sea turtles are being conserved and protected, as mandated by the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. Your voluntary collection and submission of this information will help achieve this objective. The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average one hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. Personal identifiers and any commercial information will be kept confidential to the extent permitted under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), the Department of Commerce FOIA regulations (15 CFR Part 4, Subpart A), the Trade Secrets Act (18 U.S.C. 1905), and NOAA Administrative Order 216-100. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to (NMFS, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office Protected Resources Division, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930).

OMB Control No: 0648-0496; Exp Date: xx/xx/xxxx