Better Bycatch Reduction Devices for the Gulf of Mexico Commercial Shrimp Trawl Fishery

Current Gulf of Mexico BRD Regulations for Federal & State Waters

FEDERAL
In federal waters, each net that is rigged for shrimp fishing must have one BRD from the following list installed (see 50 CFR 622.53 for exemptions): Certified BRDS- (A) Fisheye, (B) Jones-Davis, (C) Modified Jones-Davis, (D) Cone Fish Deflector Composite Panel, (E) Square Mesh Panel (SMP) Composite Panel. Federal Bycatch Reduction Device (BRD) Requirements Specifications for Certified BRDs

Texas:	In outside waters (Gulf of Mexico extending from the shoreline seaward to nine nautical miles) a certified (see federal list above) BRD is required in each net; In inside waters (Bays, passes, rivers or other bodies of water landward from the Gulf of Mexico), unless operating under a bait shrimp license, shrimp trawler are required to have one of the federally approved BRDs, or an extended mesh funnel BRD (see regulations for specifications) Texas Commercial Fishing Regulations Summary: 2022-2023 Texas Administrative Code
Louisiana:	No BRD required in state waters (within 3 nautical miles) 2023 Louisiana Commercial and For-Hire Fisheries Rules & Regulations
Mississippi:	No BRD required in state waters (within 3 nautical miles) Rules & Regulations for Shrimping in the State of Mississippi
Alabama:	No BRD required in state waters (within 3 nautical miles) Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Administrative Code
Florida:	A federally approved BRD is required in each net for otter trawls and skimmer trawls in Florida waters. In nearshore and inshore Florida waters (defined as all Florida waters inside a line three nautical miles seaward of the coastline along the Gulf of Mexico), the Florida Finfish Excluder (see regulations for specifications) is also an approved device. Florida Administrative Code