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Woods Fisheries

Fisheries Improvement Project

Gulf of America & South Atlantic

Dive into our commitment to a healthier fishery with the “Fisheries Improvement Project” at Wood’s. For us, it’s not enough to simply harvest shrimp — we aim to protect the ecosystem, empower the people behind the catch, and build lasting trust with every partner in our supply chain. Through this project, we’re actively working to reduce bycatch, improve gear and practices, and bring full transparency to how and where our shrimp are caught. Join us as we lead the way toward a more sustainable future for Gulf and South Atlantic shrimp.

Basic Project Information

Species
Coverage Area

Florida State and Federal waters in the United States Gulf of America and the United States Atlantic Ocean.

Coordinator & Participants

Coordinator

Participants

  • Wood’s Fisheries (Supplier)
  • Wegman’s (Retailer)
  • Patricia Lee (Vessel/Fleet)
  • Captain HW (Vessel/Fleet)
  • Michael Branning (Fleet Owner)
  • Candie Luck (Vessel/Fleet)

Objectives

Educating Vessel Captains & Crews

Reduce bycatch by educating vessel captains and crews. Each crew will be instructed by the FWC to ensure that the fishermen know how to tune the BRDs and TEDs to operate correctly and at optimum efficiency.

BRD & TED Compliance

Each Vessel will schedule regular State, Federal, and Third Party inspections for BRD and TED use and compliance. This will ensure that gear is properly tuned and that the crews are using the education of what was learned in Objective 1. All gear inspection, pass or fail, will be documented and made public as part of this FIP.

Implementing Trawl Time Limits

Reduce bycatch and turtle interactions by implementing trawl time limits. This will also increase the overall quality of the shrimp. Participating vessels will reduce tow times to the following limits:

  • When surface water is less than 80°F, trawl times will be 3 hours or less.
  • When surface water is greater than 80°F, trawl times will be 2 hours or less.

Review the Sea Turtle Conservation and the Shrimp Industry Congressional Hearing for supporting documentation.

Progress

Spring 2014
  • Gear inspections for Patricia Lee and The Captain HW are scheduled for the next offloading – End of March 2014.
  • FIP p2 information will be available soon.
Winter 2014-2015
  • Added the Candie Luck (Vessel/Fleet) as a participating vessel for 2015.
  • Inspection and FIP logs
    • Gear Inspection for the Patricia Lee and The Captain HW Completed
    • Implemented Trawl (drag) time limits on participating vessels
    • Observations made by captains and crew indicate a decline in the Bycatch Ratio due to shorter trawls.
    • Sea turtle interactions have been reported as higher; however, only 2 turtle deaths were reported on the participating vessels.  This is a decrease from 2013, when 7 turtle deaths were reported by the same vessels. It is important to note that interactions will increase as the turtle population increases.  The goal is to reduce the number of turtle deaths.
    • Bycatch and turtle data will be collected at every offload for FIP Participants (Example Form from Database)
Spring 2015
  • Gear Training and inspections by Gary Graham (Texas Tech) and Lyndsey Parker (University of Georgia) with SeaGrant.
  • Bycatch, turtle, and boardings have been collected from all FIP Participants and all unloadings. Unloadings with Multiple FIP Records.
  • Turtle interactions were down due to the weather and the area fished.
  • No turtle deaths recorded.
Summer 2015
Winter & Spring 2016
  • Formed a Partnership with Audubon Nature Institute and Trace Register in developing data validity and digital certificates for FIPs.  This will allow third-party verification of the data provided by the FIP participants.
  • Bycatch, turtle, and boardings have been collected from all FIP Participants’ Unloadings.
  • 19 Turtle interactions with 0 deaths.
Fall 2016
  • Audubon and Trace Register, at the FMI GMA Summit, presented the G.U.L.F. certificate developed on the Gulf of America and South Atlantic – Florida Shrimp Fishery Improvement Project.
  • FMI Presentation
  • Utilize live AIS Data for verification of the area worked. Vessel track with AIS Data.
  • Working with potential new partners on expanding the FIP into new regions.
  • As of December 1, 2016, all boats that are unloaded at the Port St. Joe dock are required to fill out the FIP questionnaire regardless of FIP participation. Vessel track with AIS Data.
2019-2020 Update

Gulf of America Shrimp Supplier Roundtable Activity

In April, the roundtable participants sent a letter to NOAA asking for an update on TED compliance data. In response, NOAA published “Turtle Excluder Device Compliance Information.“

Dockside & Water Activities

  • FIP reporting requirements were extended to all vessels in which Wood’s Fisheries purchased product directly, from no matter the unloading facility.
  • Bycatch, turtle interactions, turtle deaths, and trawl times were collected from all direct buy vessels. View the 2019/2020 Unloadings.
  • Gear Inspections
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