Oyster Radio: Sea Turtle Safe Handling and Release Gear Outreach on the West Coast of Florida

WHAT/WHEN:

NOAA Fisheries requires sea turtle safe handling and release gear be on board federally permitted commercial and for-hire vessels in the Gulf of Mexico reef fish fishery. The objective of this requirement is to increase fisherman and sea turtle safety in the event a sea turtle is incidentally captured.
There are also sea turtle handling protocols designed to ensure safe and proper techniques to remove fishing gear from incidentally captured sea turtles.
NOAA Fisheries is providing outreach opportunities during which staff will review the gear requirements and handling protocols.
Dockside outreach will be held inthelocations listed below at local marinas. If you would like to request an activity at your marina, please contact Charlie Bergmann at (228) 238-4109 or charles.bergmann@noaa.gov.
The outreach sessions do not substitute for the Highly Migratory Species Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification workshops that are required for shark and swordfish limited access permit holders that fish with longline or gillnet gear.
Additional information on sea turtle safe handling and release gear and protocols are available at: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_fisheries/gulf_sa/turtle_sawfish_release/index.html

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