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Shrimp Trawls Catch More Than Shrimp

The Gulf of Mexico shrimp trawl fishery scoops up a lot of unwanted fish along with the shrimp. In the 1990s, for every pound of shrimp caught, more than 4 pounds of other fish species were caught as bycatch and discarded dead.
(S.McGowan/AMC 2008/Marine Photobank)

The Gulf of Mexico shrimp trawl fishery scoops up a lot of unwanted fish along with the shrimp. For every pound of shrimp caught, more than 4 pounds of other fish species were caught as bycatch and discarded dead. Approximately 30 million juvenile red snapper were dying in shrimp trawls each year, ultimately sending the species into a severe decline. The population was unable to maintain itself because so many juveniles were lost before reaching reproductive age. In May 1998, regulations went into effect requiring shrimp trawlers to install release hatches for bycatch.

Tags: Bycatch