Innovations in Turtle Excluder Device (TED) Design

by · January 15, 2025

Loggerhead escapes from a shrimp trawler’s net through the Turtle Excluder Device (TED).
Photo credit: NOAA Fisheries.

The development of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) for trawl nets began in the 1980s in a collaborative effort between NOAA Fisheries, environmental groups, and the U.S. commercial shrimping industry. A TED is a metal oval with parallel bars that is incorporated into the bottom of a trawl net. If a large animal (like a sea turtle) gets caught in the net, it will be deflected by the TED out of the net through an open flap (as shown in the photo above). Meanwhile, smaller shrimp or fish pass through the bars and into the net’s bag at the end.

Watch this test demonstration of how a TED works in this NOAA Fisheries video (demo begins at 2:17): Testing of TED(s) by the NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center.

In 1987, after years of research and testing, the U.S. required shrimp trawlers to use nets equipped with TEDs. Five different types of TEDs were approved for use at that time. Subsequently, in 1989, the U.S. required countries which export shrimp to the U.S. to certify the use of TEDs in their shrimping industry.

TED Design Improvements

Since the 1980s, many innovations have been made to improve the design of TEDs. For example, in the 2000s, the escape openings were enlarged to accommodate larger sea turtles such as adult loggerheads, greens, and leatherbacks. Additionally, to decrease the loss of shrimp or fish, two mesh flaps were incorporated over the escape opening instead of just one. Currently, NOAA Fisheries testing has found that TEDs are 97% effective at keeping sea turtles out of shrimp trawl nets.

Another significant development resulted in the creation of the Trash and Turtle Excluder Device (TTED) which reduces fish bycatch by 25 to 40 percent, removes debris from the water, and may also help reduce the trawler’s fuel consumption. The TTED took three years to develop and involved the collaboration of several organizations including NOAA, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), French Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, French Guiana Regional Fishery and Ocean Farming Committee, and European Fund for Fisheries. Legislation in French Guiana required their shrimp fishery to use TTED at the beginning of 2010.

TED Use Worldwide

The Inter-American Convention (IAC) for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles treaty was finalized in 2001 and includes Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Netherlands (Antilles), Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, United States, Uruguay, and Venezuela. The treaty protects six sea turtle species and requires multiple sea turtle protections including TEDs used on shrimp trawl vessels.

Other countries which require the use of TEDs are Malaysia, India, Thailand, Pakistan, and Australia. Countries looking to implement TEDs in their fisheries often seek out the assistance of NOAA Fisheries because of their extensive experience testing the devices. See NOAA Fisheries article “Reducing Bycatch Through Decades of Research and Innovation.”

Surprisingly, the European Union (EU) does not currently have laws requiring the use of TEDs by countries which export shrimp to them. This has prompted environmental groups like WWF to urge the EU to adopt TED legislation (see “EU Demand for Seafood Must Stop Contributing to the Depletion of Sea Turtles”).

New Research Helps Guide Future TED Enhancements

NOAA Fisheries continues to work with various fishing industries worldwide to discover new ways to improve TEDs. They also regularly authorize the use of updated TED designs here in the U.S.

Other researchers are also studying how to improve TEDs and find ways to encourage their use in fishing industries. Below are some recent studies regarding these efforts.

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