August 6, 2026 — A federal appeals court heard arguments Tuesday over whether Louisiana shrimpers should be required to use turtle protection devices in their nets, a rule the state’s shrimp industry says could have major financial consequences.
The Louisiana Shrimp Association is challenging a federal mandate requiring shrimp boats longer than 40 feet to use Turtle Excluder Devices, or TEDs. The group argues the devices are unnecessary in Louisiana’s inland waters, where members say sea turtles are rarely found.
The requirement was issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service as part of federal efforts to protect endangered and threatened sea turtles from becoming trapped in shrimp nets.
Attorneys representing the shrimp industry argued that the devices are costly to install and can reduce shrimp harvests by collecting trash and debris inside the nets. Association members also contend they have rarely encountered sea turtles while operating in the state’s shallow inland waters over several decades.