Turtle excluder devices

Turtle excluder devices (TEDs) modify trawl nets to allow larger animals to escape. These animals include sea turtles, stingrays, sharks and sponges. TEDs are usually fitted into a trawl net at the beginning of the codend. At this point in the net, water flow is fastest and maximises the ability of a TED to separate target animals from non-target animals.

The use of TEDs helps reduce the catch of endangered and protected sea turtle species.

TED legislation

In Queensland's east coast trawl fishery, the use of TEDs with bycatch reduction devices is mandatory in all otter trawl nets.

The use of TEDs helps prevent sea turtles from being caught during trawling and are compulsory in the following Australian fisheries:

• Queensland east coast trawl fishery – daytime and inshore trawling in all areas except river beam trawl
• northern prawn fishery (Gulf of Carpentaria, Arnhem Land coast and Joseph Bonaparte Gulf)
• Torres Strait prawn fishery.

TED design

TEDs consist of either a metal or plastic grid with vertical bars running from the top to the bottom of the frame (much like a stormwater drain grate). The grid is then installed in a tube of mesh netting.

Grids are installed in the netting at an angle of 30–55°. This creates a physical barrier that lets prawns and other animals smaller than the bar spacing pass through the TED and into the codend. Sea turtles, other large animals and debris slide along the grid to an exit hole cut in the top or bottom of the surrounding mesh. The exit hole may be partially covered by a flap of webbing to reduce the possibility of losing prawns.

Fishers can use an accelerator funnel with their TEDs and scallop mesh up to 90mm when constructing TED flaps for use with their scallop nets.

When working properly, catch loss associated with these devices should be minimal. There is evidence that TEDs may improve the quality or the quantity of the prawn catch in certain circumstances. A poorly constructed or maintained TED may cause major losses in prawn catch.

TEDs technical information guide

This TEDs guide provides technical information to ensure that TEDs are made to a consistent standard and are fitted correctly to trawl nets used throughout the Queensland east coast trawl fishery.

The guide and the standardised design specifications contained within it will help both net makers (to construct TEDs) and fishers (to fit and use TEDs). This will ensure TEDs effectively reduce bycatch (non-target species) while also retaining catches of target and permitted species.

Technical information guide:

• Turtle excluder devices – part 1 (PDF, 306KB)
• Turtle excluder devices – part 2 (PDF, 508KB)
• Turtle excluder devices – part 3 (PDF, 457KB)
• Turtle excluder devices – part 4 (PDF, 300KB).

Also consider...

• Find out more about bycatch reduction devices (BRDs).