Notification of Type and Specifications of Turtle Excluder Devices (L.N. No. 195 of 1999)

Legal Supplement Part B-Vol. 38, No. 182-Bth October, 1999 LEGAL NOTICE No. 195 REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO THE FISHERIES AcT, CHAP. 67:51 NOTIFICATION OF TYPE AND SPECIFICATIONS OF TURTLE EXCLUDER DEVICES (TEDs) MADE BY THE MINISTER UNDER REGULATION B(c) OF THE FISHERIES (CONSERVATION OF MARINE TURTLES) REGULATIONS, 1994 IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred on the Minister under Regulation B(c) of Fisheries (Conservation of Marine Turtles) Regulations, 1994, Legal Notice No. 65 of 1994, the Minister hereby gives Notice that the type and specifications of turtle excluder devices shall be in the manner set out below. Type and Specifications for Single Grid Hard TEDs Construction materials Angle of deflector bars Space between bars Direction of bal'B Escape opening 1. The following materials are allowable: (a) Solid steel rod-minimum outside diameter 0.64 cm (1/4 in.); (b) Fiberglass or aluminum rod minimum outside diameter 1.27 cm (l/2 in.); and (c) Steel or aluminum tubing-minimum outside diameter 1.27 cm (1/2 in.) and minimum wall thickness of 0.32 cm (1/s in.) (schedule 40 tubing). 2. The angle of the deflector bars must be between 30° and 55° from the horizontal flow through the trawl. 3. The space between deflector bars, and between the deflector bars and the frame, must not exceed 10.2 cm (4 in.). 4. The deflector bars must run from top to bottom of the TED, in normal position in the net, except that up to four of the bottom bars and two of the top bars including the frame may run from side to side of the TED. 5. (a) Position. The escape opening must be positioned immediately forward of the frame. The escape opening must be cut horizontally along the same plane as the TED; and 697 698 Notification of Type and Specifications of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) Size of Grid Attachment of Grid Floats (b) Size. The escape opening must measure at least 88.9 cm (35 in.) in horizontal taut length, and simultaneously 30.5 cm (12 in.) in vertical taut height, the latter being taken at the mid point of the horizontal measurement. 6. A single grid hard TED must have an inside horizontal and vertical measurement of at least 76.2 cm (30 in.) at the mid point of the deflector grid. 7. A hard TED must be sewn into the trawl around the entire circumference of the TED with heavy twine. 8. All bottom•opening hard TEDs must have adequate flotation as set out below ( a) if the TED circumference is less than 305 cm (120 in.) the following flotation is allowable: (i) one expanded polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or expanded ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) float 17.2 cm (6.75 in.) in diameter by 22.2 cm (8.75 in.) in length; (ii) one aluminum (AL) or hard plastic (HP) float 25 cm (9.8 in.) in diameter; and (iii) manufacturer stamped certified flotation at least 4.5 kg (10 lbs.); and (b) if Lhe TED circumference is equal to or greater than 305 cm (120 in.) the following flotation is allowable: (i) two expanded polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or expanded ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) floats 17.2 cm (6.75 in.) in diameter by 22.2 cm (8. 75 in.) in length; (ii) one aluminum (AL) or hard plastic (HP) float 25 cm (9.8 in.) in diameter; and (iii) manufacturer stamped certified flotation at least 9.1 kg (20 lbs.), (floats must be attached to either the outside or inside of the net, if the latter, the float must be behind the TED frame). Notification of Type and Specifications of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) Allo~abl~ 9. The following modifications and/or accessories modifications are allowable according to the given specifications: (1) Accelerator funnels. The tapered end of the accelerator funnel must open to a minimum diameter of 99 cm (39 in.) when stretched in a straight-line configuration: (a) no more than one third of the tapered end of the funnel may be attached to the grid. The attachment to the grid must be opposite to the escape opening; (b) the maximum mesh size from which the funnel is constructed is 4.1 cm (15/s in.) stretched mesh; and (c) the rear edge of the funnel may not extend past the TED deflector bars. (2) The webbing flap (a) must be constructed of webbing no larger than 4.1 L-m (15/s in.) stretched mesh; (b) is attached along the entire forward edge of the escape opening; (c) is not attached on the sides more than 15.2 cm (6 in.) beyond the posterior edge of the grid; and (d) must not extend more than 61 cm (24 in.) beyond the posterior edge of the grid. (3) Chaffing webbing Chaffing webbing is subject to the following conditions: (a) if constructed of nylon, twine size no smaller than 2.46 mm in diameter; (b) must be attached along its leading edge only; and (c) must not extend beyond the trailing edge or sides of the existing escape opening webbing flap. Dated this 29th day of September, 1999. R. MOHAMMED Minister of Agriculture, Land and Marine Resources PRINTED BY THE GoVERNMENT PRINTER, PORT-OF-SPAIN REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAG0-1999 699