Timeline Post Type Description

The future for TEDs

By 2017 shrimp trawl fishermen TEDs will be compulsory for shrimp trawls on the east coast of peninsular Malaysia during the monsoon (Nov-Mar). The Fisheries department will introduce regulations requiring the use of TEDs and shrimp trawlers will have special permits to fish inshore. Outside of the monsoon season, fisherman can only trawl beyond five…

Twenty five percent of boats on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia use TEDs but Sabah is greater challenge with only ten percent using TEDs.    

Workshops

MRF began to broaden its workshop and in June 2015 a total of 96 participants including 53 fishermen from Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu, Miri, Sarikei and Mukah attended as well as 43 DOFM officers. The workshop gave an introduction to TEDs, Malaysia TED studies and the implementation plan for Malaysia. these workshops also gave opportunity for…

Study on the use of TEDs on shrimp trawls in Kemaman comes to an end with the “smiley face” TED being tested in the later stages of the study. This TED allows the capture of sting rays while still excluding turtles.      

MRF conducted another site visit to the US to work with NOAA and NMFS officers in Panama City. Director General of the DOFM attended also to witness the Malaysia TED undergoing NMFS’s controlled trial test and certification process. A total of 25 sea turtles were tested and all 25 escaped well short of the allotted…

Following substantial fisher input for the first Malaysia TED, the technical support and encouragment provided by NMFS and MRF led to the modification of a super-shooter TED, allowing the capture of stingrays, a highly valued catch. The new TED design incorporates a four inch (10cm) horizontal bar curved at the bottom of the vertical grids…

A long term study begins on the use of TED in shrimp trawls in Kemaman between November and February. Three fishing vessels are used during the study and six in 2013 ad 2014.