Shrimps Exports: TED use is a precondition for certification

A workshop to train fishermen on the use of the device held in Douala on July 23, 2015.

Shrimps live together with marine turtles but when shrimp fishermen cast their nets, they accidentally catch turtles that were not their target. As a result, the world is experiencing a shortage of the endangered turtles.

Reason why experts in the United States of America introduced the Turtle Excluder Device, TED. When mounted on the fisherman’s trawl net, it enables trapped turtles to escape without affecting shrimp catch.

In order for Cameroonian shrimp fishermen to be certified to export their products to the US, they have to use TED. Joseph A. Fette, Environmental Officer with the United States Department of State Bureau of Oceans and International and Scientific Affairs, said using TED will save marine turtles from extinction, protect biodiversity, increase shrimp catch and as well have access to the US market.

Since 1973, he went on, the US amended the Protection of Sea Turtles Law since they are endangered and can be extinct. Several countries around the world, including Gabon and Nigeria, have requested to be part of the programme to obtain certification to export shrimps to the US.

The Technical Adviser N°1 in the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries, Dr, Meke Soung Pierre Nolasque, who chaired the opening ceremony, said Cameroon formerly relied on sanitary inspections for exporting fishery products to the European Union, but this was suspended in 2006.

“Using TED will not only enable the fishing industry to obtain foreign currency, but also preserve our marine turtles that are near extinction,” explained Imoulanok Louis Martin, a shrimp fisherman. He expressed his willingness to take advantage of the situation to gain access to the US market, hoping that using TED will increase his catch.