NMFS Gulf Shrimp Vessel and Gear Survey Form

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Marine Fisheries Service
Southeast Fisheries Science Center
4700 Avenue U
Galveston, TX 77551

OMB No. 0648-0542
Approval Expires: 3/31/2023

2021

GULF SHRIMP VESSEL & GEAR
CHARACTERIZATION FORM
INSTRUCTIONS

(Incomplete or illegible forms will be returned.)

Please Note: It is REQUIRED that the following form be returned in order to be eligible to renew your FEDERAL
PERMIT APPLICATION FOR VESSELS FISHING IN THE EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE (EEZ) to the following
address: NOAA Fisheries Galveston Laboratory, Attention: Rebecca Smith, 4700 Avenue U, Galveston, TX 77551. If
you have a question regarding the form, please email: Rebecca.Smith@noaa.gov.
QUESTION 1 Enter the year that you purchased or leased the vessel, regardless of whether it was new or used at the
time.
QUESTION 2 For part a, indicate whether the vessel was most frequently operated by the owner or someone other
than the owner (a hired captain) in 2021. For part b, indicate the number of crewmembers typically on board during
2021, including the captain.
QUESTION 3 Answer ‘yes’ if the vessel was used to shrimp in Federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico even one time
during 2021.
QUESTION 4 Indicate the total number of days at sea and the number of trips for this vessel in the Gulf of Mexico
shrimp fishery during 2021 (including from bays, bayous, State inshore and offshore waters, or Federal waters). For
example, if the vessel took 10 trips and each trip lasted 10 days, then the total days at sea for 2021 would be 100.
QUESTIONS 5 – 11 Indicate the characteristics for the one primary gear type most frequently used on this vessel in
2021. Also provide the characteristics of the try net used with this gear type.
QUESTIONS 12 - 13 Indicate the one BRD type most frequently used on this vessel in 2021.
QUESTIONS 14 - 26 Indicate and provide additional details for the one TED type most frequently used on this
vessel in 2021.
QUESTION 27 Indicate all types of ELECTRONIC equipment that were on-board this vessel in 2021.
Through this form, NMFS is collecting information from all federally permitted shrimp vessel owners/operators on
fishing vessel and gear characteristics in the Gulf of Mexico Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) shrimp fishery. The data
collected are currently being analyzed by NMFS economists, gear specialists, and fishery biologists to improve fishery
management decision-making in this fishery. This information is vital in assessing the economic, social and
environmental effects of fishery management decisions and regulations on individual shrimp fishing enterprises,
fishing communities, and the nation as a whole.
KNOWINGLY SUPPLYING FALSE INFORMATION IS A VIOLATION OF FEDERAL LAW PUNISHABLE BY A FINE AND/OR IMPRISONMENT.
Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 30 minutes 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. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other suggestions for reducing this burden to Rebecca Smith, NMFS, Fisheries
Management Branch, 4700 Avenue U, Galveston, TX, 77551.
All data submitted will be handled as confidential material in accordance with NOAA Administrative Order 216-100, Protection of Confidential
Fishery Statistics. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be subjected 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.

2021

OMB No. – 0648-0542

Approval Expires: 3/31/2023

GULF SHRIMP VESSEL AND GEAR CHARACTERIZATION FORM
Permit #:
Permit Holder Name:

Vessel Name:

State Registration #:

USCG Vessel ID:
Please provide any missing or incorrect information in the above heading.

1.

What year did you purchase or lease this vessel?
Purchase or Lease Year _____________

2.

a. In 2021, this vessel was most frequently operated by:
(Check the appropriate box.)
owner

hired-captain

BOTH (owner and captain)

none (not shrimping)

b. In 2021, what was the typical number of crew on the vessel, including captain?
If not shrimping, write N/A.
Total number of crew and captain ________
3.

In 2021, did you shrimp in Federal waters (i.e. the EEZ1) of the Gulf of Mexico?
(Check the appropriate box.)
Yes

4.

No

In 2021, what was the total number of days at sea and the total number of trips this vessel
took in the Gulf of Mexico shrimp fishery (including State inshore and offshore & Federal
offshore trips)? The total days at sea should not exceed 365 days.
Total Days at sea during the entire year __________
Number of Trips taken during the entire year _________

5.

What was the most frequently used Gear Type in 2021?
Choose a code from the lists below. If other, please specify.
(See Figure 1 on Page 3 for common gear types.)
Code Gear Type

Code Gear Type

A

Trawl

D Skimmer Net

B

Butterfly Net

F

C

Cast Net

G Other (specify) __________

Roller Frame

1The EEZ portion of the fishery is from nine (9) miles outward off of the Texas and West Florida coasts, and from
three (3) miles outward off the coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.

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Approval Expires: 3/31/2023

Figure 1. Common Gear Types. (Use for Question 5, use letters above picture.)

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6.

What was your most frequently used Net Type in 2021?
Choose a code from the lists below. If other, please specify.
Code Net Type

7.

Approval Expires: 3/31/2023

Code Net Type

H

2 Seam Balloon

M

Western Jib

J

4 Seam Balloon

N

Add-on Bib

K

Box

O

Built-in Bib (e.g. mongoose, cobra, etc.)

L

Flat

P

Other (specify)___________

What was the number of nets used at one time for your most frequently used gear type in
2020? Do not include the try net in total number of nets used at one time.
Number of Nets used at one time _________

Figure 2. Basic Trawl Diagram with parts identified. (Use for Questions 8 - 11).

8.

What was the Headrope Length or Frame Width (in feet) for your most frequently used gear
type in 2021? (Note: Measurement is width of mouth of one net.)
Headrope Length or Frame Width _________ feet

9.

What was the Headrope Length or Frame Width (in feet) for your Try Net in 2021?
(If no Try Net was used, write “N/A” in the blank.)
Headrope Length or Frame Width of Try Net ________ feet

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10.

Approval Expires: 3/31/2023

What was the Mesh Type (net material) for your most frequently used gear in 2021?
Choose a code from the lists below for each question. If other, please specify.

Body of Net
Code
S
T
U
V
W

Mesh Type
Nylon
Spectra
Poly
Sapphire
Other (specify) ______________

Codend (Tail or Bag)
Code
S
T
U
V
W

11.

Mesh Type
Nylon
Spectra
Poly
Sapphire
Other (specify) ______________

What was the Mesh Size (in inches) for your most frequently used gear type?
(See Figure 3 for measurement illustration.)
Body of Net ________ inches
Codend (Tail or Bag) ________ inches

Figure 3. Illustration on how to measure Mesh Size. (Use for Question 11.)
Use the measurement of the distance between the centers of two opposite knots (points A & B) after the
mesh has been stretched.

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12.

Approval Expires: 3/31/2023

In 2021, what is the type of BRD (bycatch reduction device) you used most frequently? Check
the appropriate box below. (See Figure 4.)
Jones-Davis

Modified Jones-Davis

Composite Panel

Composite Panel with Square Mesh

Composite Panel with Cone

Fisheye

None (N/A)
Figure 4. Common Bycatch Reduction Devices. (Use for Question 12.)

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13.

Approval Expires: 3/31/2023

If a Fisheye BRD was used, what was the distance from the bag tie off rings to the BRD?
If you did not use a Fisheye BRD, write “N/A” in the blank.
(See Figure 5 for measurement illustration.)
Distance in inches: ___________

Figure 5. Illustration on how to measure distance from BRD to tie off rings (Use for Question 13.)

14.

In 2021, what Type of TED (turtle excluder device) did you use most frequently?

Please check only one code.

Single Grid Hard TED  (Questions 15 - 19 and question 27)
Parker Soft TED  (Questions 20 - 21 and question 27)
Hooped Hard TED  (Questions 22 - 26 and question 27)
None (N/A)  (Question 27)

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OMB No. – 0648-0542

Approval Expires: 3/31/2023

SINGLE GRID HARD TED
If you most frequently used a Single Grid Hard TED in 2021, answer questions 15 –
19. 15.

16.

What was the most frequently used Grid Style? Check only one code.
A = Bent Bar
B = Matagorda
C = Weedless
D = Georgia
E = Fixed Angle
What was the Grid Size (width x height) of your Single Grid Hard TED? The measurement is
the measurement of the outside frame of the TED.
_______ inches x _______inches

17.

What was the Opening Size of your Single Grid Hard TED?
Check the most frequently used Opening Size. If other, please specify size in inches.
A = Double Cover (inshore & offshore)
B = 71” (inshore & offshore)
C = 44” (inshore only)
D = Other size opening (please specify)_______ inches

18.

What was the Opening Direction of your Single Grid Hard TED?
Check the most frequently used direction.
A = Top Opening
B = Bottom Opening
C = Both Top and Bottom Opening

19.

Did you use an Accelerator Funnel on your Single Grid Hard TED? Check Yes or No.
Yes
No

Go to Question 27 (skip 20 - 26)

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OMB No. – 0648-0542

2021

Approval Expires: 3/31/2023

PARKER SOFT TED
If you most frequently used a Parker Soft TED in 2021, answer questions 20 and 21.
20.

What was the Opening Type/Size of your Parker Soft TED? Check the correct opening size.
1 = 56” cut (inshore only)
2 = 96” cut (offshore / inshore)
0 = Other (Please specify) __________ inches

21.

Did you use a flap on your Parker Soft TED (Offshore Only)? Check Yes or No.
Yes
No

Go to Question 27 (skip 22 - 26)

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OMB No. – 0648-0542

2021

Approval Expires: 3/31/2023

HOOPED HARD TED
If you most frequently used a Hooped Hard TED in 2021, answer questions 22 - 26.
22.

Check your most frequently used Grid Style. Check only one style.
G = Coulon
H = NMFS

23.

What was the most frequently used Frame Size of your Hooped Hard TED? Check the
minimum size you used. If other, please specify measurement in inches.
A = Inshore minimum
B = Offshore minimum
C = Other (provide measurement)________ inches

24.

What was the most frequently used Opening Size of your Hooped Hard TED? Check only one
size. If other, please specify opening size in inches.
A = Double Cover (inshore & offshore)
B = 71” (inshore & offshore)
C = 44“
(inshore only)
D = Other size opening (please specify) _______ inches

25.

What was the Opening Direction of your Hooped Hard TED? Check only one direction.
A = Top Opening
B = Bottom Opening
C = Both Top and Bottom Opening

26.

Did you use an Accelerator Funnel on your Hooped Hard TED? Check Yes or No.
Yes
No

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27.

Approval Expires: 3/31/2023

In the list below, please check off the types of ELECTRONIC equipment (either in the
wheelhouse or mounted on the gear) that were on-board your vessel in 2021. Note that this list
contains types of equipment that may not be presently used in the Gulf of Mexico shrimp fishery,
but are used in other fisheries for which this type of information is being collected.
Please Check

Item
Cell phone
VHF radio
CB Radio
Single sideband radio
Satellite phone
Fax
Plotter (please indicate type of plotter used, if any):
P-Sea Windplot
Other

(please specify) ___________________

Computer (including software)
Printer
Hailer (Boat intercom)
Loran
Vessel Tracking System
Radar
Global Positioning System (GPS)
Auto Pilot
EPIRB
Echo Sounder/Depth Recorder (please check all which you have):
Paper
Video
Digital

Electronic Compass
Satellite Navigation System (SatNav)
Radio Direction Finder
Weather Satellite Receiver
Wind Meter
Net Pingers
Temperature Profiling System
Water Temperature Sensor
Single direction sonar
Multiple direction sonar
Water salinity Sensor
NOAA/NMFS cELB (Cellular Electronic Logbook)
US Coast Guard AIS (Automatic Identification System)
Other (please specify)
Other (please specify)
Authorized Signature: _____________________________________________________

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