Fishermen using skimmer trawls, pusher-head trawls and wing-net trawls without TEDs have tow time limits to help prevent incidental catch of turtles. Tow time limits are:

• 55 minutes from April 1 through Oct. 31
• 75 minutes from Nov. 1 through March 31

Tow times are measured from the time the codend enters the water until it is completely removed from the water. Raising a net to the water surface to determine catch size – without removing the codend from the water – does not end the tow clock.

For more information from NOAA, visit www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/turtles/skimmertrawlnets.htm