Shrimp Vessel and Gear Characterization Survey

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Marine Fisheries Service
Southeast Fisheries Science Center
4700 Avenue U
Galveston, TX 77551

OMB No. 0648-0542
Approval Expires: 11/30/2012

GULF SHRIMP VESSEL & GEAR
CHARACTERIZATION FORM
INSTRUCTIONS
(Incomplete or illegible forms will be returned.)

Please Note: It is REQUIRED that the following form be returned in order to be eligible to renew your FEDERAL
PERMIT APPLICATION FOR VESSELS FISHING IN THE EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE (EEZ) to the following
address: NOAA Fisheries Galveston Laboratory, Attention: Rebecca Smith, 4700 Avenue U, Galveston, TX 77551. If
you have a question regarding the form, please call (409) 766-3783 between 8 am - 4:30 pm CST.
QUESTION 1 Enter the year that you purchased the vessel, regardless of whether it was new or used at the time.
QUESTION 2 For part a, indicate whether the vessel was most frequently operated by the owner or someone other
than the owner (a hired captain) in 2011. For part b, indicate the number of crewmembers typically on board during
2011, including the captain.
QUESTION 3 Answer ‘yes’ if the vessel was used to shrimp in Federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico even one time
during 2011.
QUESTION 4 Indicate the total number of days at sea and the number of trips for this vessel in the Gulf of Mexico
shrimp fishery during 2011 (including from bays, bayous, State inshore and offshore waters, or Federal waters). For
example, if the vessel took 10 trips and each trip lasted 10 days, then the total days at sea for 2011 would be 100.
QUESTIONS 5 – 11 Indicate the characteristics for the one primary gear type most frequently used on this vessel in
2011. Also provide the characteristics of the try net used with this gear type.
QUESTIONS 12 - 13 Indicate the one BRD type most frequently used on this vessel in 2011.
QUESTIONS 14 - 26 Indicate and provide additional details for the one TED type most frequently used on this
vessel in 2011.
QUESTION 27 Indicate all types of ELECTRONIC equipment that were on-board this vessel in 2011.

KNOWINGLY SUPPLYING FALSE INFORMATION IS A VIOLATION OF FEDERAL LAW PUNISHABLE BY A FINE
AND/OR IMPRISONMENT.
Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 20 minutes per response, including
the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and
completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other
suggestions for reducing this burden to Rick Hart, NMFS, Fisheries Management Branch, 4700 Avenue U, Galveston,
TX, 77551.
All data submitted will be handled as confidential material in accordance with NOAA Administrative Order 216-100,
Protection of Confidential Fishery Statistics. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the law, no person is required
to respond to, nor shall any person be subjected to a penalty for failure to comply with, a collection of information
subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that collection of information displays a currently
valid OMB Control Number.

2011

OMB No. – 0648-0542

Approval Expires - 11/30/2012

GULF SHRIMP VESSEL AND GEAR CHARACTERIZATION FORM
Permit # :
Permit Holder Name:
State Registration #:

Vessel Name:
USCG Vessel ID:
Please provide any missing or incorrect information in the above heading.

1.

What year did you purchase this vessel?
Purchase Year _____________

2.

a. In 2011, this vessel was most frequently operated by:
(Check the appropriate box.)
owner

hired-captain

BOTH (owner and captain)

none (not shrimping)

b. In 2011, what was the typical number of crew on the vessel, including captain? If not
shrimping, write N/A.
Total number of crew and captain ________
3.

1

In 2011, did you shrimp in Federal waters (i.e. the EEZ ) of the Gulf of Mexico?
(Check the appropriate box.)
Yes

4.

No

In 2011, what was the total number of days at sea and the total number of trips this vessel took in
the Gulf of Mexico shrimp fishery (including State inshore and offshore & Federal offshore
trips)? The total days at sea should not exceed 365 days.
Total Days at sea during the entire year __________
Number of Trips taken during the entire year _________

5.

What was the most frequently used Gear Type in 2011?
Choose a code from the list below. If other, please specify. ________
(See Figure 1 on Page 2 for common gear types.)
Code Gear Type
Code Gear Type
A
B
C

Trawl
Butterfly Net
Cast Net

D
F
G

Skimmer Net
Roller Frame
Other (specify) __________

1

The EEZ portion of the fishery is from nine (9) miles outward off of the Texas and West Florida coasts, and from
three (3) miles outward off the coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.

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OMB No. – 0648-0542

2011

Approval Expires - 11/30/2012

Figure 1. Common Gear Types. (Use for Question 5, use letters above picture.)

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2011

OMB No. – 0648-0542

6.

Approval Expires - 11/30/2012

What was your most frequently used Net Type in 2011? Choose a code from the list below.
If no gear used, please write “N/A” in the blank. If other, please specify.
Net Type _________
Code Net Type
H
2 Seam Balloon
J
4 Seam Balloon
K
Box
L
Flat

7.

Code
M
N
O
P

Net Type
Western Jib
Add-on Bib
Built-in Bib (e.g. mongoose, cobra, etc.)
Other (specify)___________

What was the total number of nets for your most frequently used gear type in 2011? If no gear
used, please write “N/A” in the blank.
Total Number of Nets _________

8.

What was the Headrope Length/Frame Width (in feet) for your most frequently used gear type in
2011? (Note: Measurement is width of mouth of one net.) If no gear used, please write “N/A” in
the blank.
Headrope Length/Frame Width _________ feet

9.

What was the Mesh Type (net material) for your most frequently used gear in 2011?
Choose a code from the list below. If other, please specify. If no gear used, please write “N/A”
in the blank.
Body of Net ________
Code
S
T
U

10.

Mesh Type
Nylon
Spectra
Poly

Codend (Bag) ________
Code Mesh Type
V
Sapphire
W
Other (specify) ______________

What was the Mesh Size (in inches) for your most frequently used gear type?
(See Figure 2 for measurement illustration.) If no gear used, please write “N/A” in the blank.
Body of Net ________ inches

Codend (Bag) ________ inches

Figure 2. Illustration on how to measure Mesh Size. (Use for Question 10.)
Use the measurement of the distance between the centers of two opposite knots (points A & B) after the
mesh has been stretched.

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2011

OMB No. – 0648-0542

11.

Approval Expires - 11/30/2012

What was the Headrope Length/Frame Width (in feet) for your Try Net in 2011?
(If no Try Net was used, write “N/A” in the blank.)
Headrope Length/Frame Width of Try Net ________ feet

12.

In 2011, what type of BRD (bycatch reduction device) did you use most frequently (check the
appropriate box)? See Figure 3.
Jones-Davis

Modified Jones-Davis

Composite Panel with Cone

Composite Panel with Square Mesh

Extended Funnel

Fisheye

None (N/A)

Figure 3. Common Bycatch Reduction Devices. (Use for Question 12.)

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OMB No. – 0648-0542

13.

2011

Approval Expires - 11/30/2012

If a Fisheye BRD was used, what was the distance from the bag tie off rings to the BRD?
If you did not use a Fisheye BRD, write “N/A” in the blank.
(See Figure 4 for measurement illustration.)
Distance in inches: ___________

Figure 4. Illustration on how to measure distance from BRD to tie off rings (Use for Question 13.)

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OMB No. – 0648-0542

14.

Approval Expires - 11/30/2012

In 2011, what Type of TED (turtle excluder device) did you use most frequently?
Please check only one code. (Use Figure 5 on page 8 for TED illustrations.)
_____Single Grid Hard TED  (Questions 15 - 19 and question 27)
_____Parker Soft TED  (Questions 20 - 21 and question 27)
_____Hooped Hard TED  (Questions 22 - 26 and question 27)
_____None (N/A)  (Question 27)

If you most frequently used a Single Grid Hard TED in 2011, answer questions 15 – 19.
(See Figure 4, page 8 for illustration.)
15.

What was the Grid Style? Check only one code.
_____A = Bent Bar
_____B = Matagorda
_____C = Weedless
_____D = Georgia
_____E = Fixed Angle

16.

What was the Grid Size (width x height) of your Single Grid Hard TED?
_______ inches x _______inches

17.

What was the Opening Size of your Single Grid Hard TED?
Check the most frequently used Opening Size. If other, please specify size in inches.
_____A = Double Cover (inshore & offshore)
_____B = 71” (inshore & offshore)
_____C = 44” (inshore only)
_____D = Other size opening (please specify)_______ inches

18.

What was the Opening Direction of your Single Grid Hard TED?
Check the most frequently used direction.
_____A = Top Opening
_____B = Bottom Opening
_____C = Both Top and Bottom Opening

19.

Did you use an Accelerator Funnel on your Single Grid Hard TED? Check Yes or No.
_____Yes
_____ No

Go to Question 27 (skip 20 - 26)
If you most frequently used a Parker Soft TED in 2011, answer only 20 and 21.
(See Figure 4, diagram F, on page 8 for illustration.)
20.

What was the Opening Type/Size of your Parker Soft TED? Check the correct opening size.
_____1 = 56” cut (inshore only)
_____2 = 96” cut (offshore / inshore)
_____0 = Other (Please specify) __________ inches

21.

Did you use a flap on your Parker Soft TED (Offshore Only)? Check Yes or No.
_____Yes
_____No

Go to Question 27 (skip 22 - 26)
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OMB No. – 0648-0542

2011

Approval Expires - 11/30/2012

If you most frequently used a Hooped Hard TED in 2011, answer questions 22 - 26.
(See Figure 5 on page 8 for illustration.)
22.

Check your most frequently used Grid Style. Check only one style.
_____G = Coulon
_____H = NMFS

23.

What was the most frequently used Frame Size of your Hooped Hard TED? Check the minimum
size you used. If other, please specify measurement in inches.
_____A = Inshore minimum
_____B = Offshore minimum
_____C = Other (provide measurement)________ inches

24.

What was the most frequently used Opening Size of your Hooped Hard TED? Check only one
size. If other, please specify opening size in inches.
_____A = Double Cover (inshore & offshore)
_____B = 71” (inshore & offshore)
_____C = 44“ (inshore only)
_____D = Other size opening (please specify) _______ inches

25.

What was the Opening Direction of your Hooped Hard TED? Check only one direction.
_____A = Top Opening
_____B = Bottom Opening
_____C = Both Top and Bottom Opening

26.

Did you use an Accelerator Funnel on your Hooped Hard TED? Check Yes or No.
_____Yes
_____No

Figure 5. Common Turtle Excluder Devices (For Questions 14 - 26, use letters above picture.)

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27.

2011

Approval Expires - 11/30/2012

In the list below, please check off the types of ELECTRONIC equipment (either in the
wheelhouse or mounted on the gear) that were on-board your vessel in 2011. Note that this list
contains types of equipment that may not be presently used in the Gulf of Mexico shrimp fishery,
but are used in other fisheries for which this type of information is being collected.
Please Check

Item
Cell phone
VHF radio
CB Radio
Single sideband radio
Satellite phone
Fax
Plotter
Computer (including software)
Printer
Hailer (Boat intercom)
Loran
Vessel Tracking System
Radar
Global Positioning System (GPS)
Auto Pilot
EPIRB

Paper
Video
Digital

Echo Sounder/Depth Recorder (please check all which you have):
Electronic Compass
Satellite Navigation System (SatNav)
Radio Direction Finder
Weather Satellite Receiver
Wind Meter
Net Pingers
Temperature Profiling System
Water Temperature Sensor
Single direction sonar
Multiple direction sonar
Water salinity Sensor
Other (please specify) _____________________
Other (please specify) _____________________
Other (please specify) _____________________
Other (please specify) _____________________

Authorized Signature: _____________________________________

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