Relocation Trawling? Yes
Hoppers never returned. Finished on July 23, 2010. Update as of 8/4/10: Still no trawling or hopper dredging on the East Berm Project. Update as of 7/28/10: Hopper dredging and trawling activities have NOT resumed at Hewes Point borrow site (East Berm). The hopper dredges are currently working within the MS river to dredge sediments for the west berm locations. Currently no trawlers are used when the hopper dredges work inside the river. Under normal environmental conditions and a typical dredging operation, it would be expected that incidental takes of sea turtles would be unlikely within the river. Trawlers will be utilized once hopper dredges resume operations outside the river at Hewes Point for the east berm construction. Update as of 7/25/10: Hopper dredging and trawling activities have NOT resumed at Hewes Point borrow site since it was halted around midnight on 7/23/10. Update as of 7/23/10: Due to Tropical Depression Bonnie, all hopper dredging and relocation trawling operations were halted at midnight on 7/23/2010 for the Hewes Point borrow site. Hopper dredging and relocation trawling activities are expected to resume within the next few days at Hewes Point once the storm has past and the vessels can reposition. Update as of 7/23/10: 194 turtles have been captured (189 have been relocated, 5 taken to IMMS facility). Breakdown by species is 185 Loggerheads, 8 Kemps and 1 Green. There has been 11 recaptures (all loggerheads) and 1 turtle has been recaptured twice. 584 total tows with a CPUE = 0.33 Turtles/Tow. At the time of this last reporting, there is 2 capture trawlers 2 non-capture trawlers working with a CPUE = 0.33 Turtles/Tows on this day. There was 1 recature and 1 fresh dead loggerhead caught and sent to IMMS at daylight on this day. Update as of 7/22/10: Total of 184 turtles have been captured (180 have been relocated, 4 taken to IMMS facility). Breakdown by species is 175 Loggerheads, 8 Kemps and 1 Green. There has been 10 recaptures (all loggerheads) and 1 turtle has been recaptured twice. 526 total tows with a CPUE = 0.35 Turtles/Tow. At the time of this last reporting, there is 2 capture trawlers (F/V Miss Adrianne was at the dock most of the day due to vessel repairs.), 2 non-capture trawlers working with a CPUE = 0.05 Turtles/Tows on this day. Turtles relocated taken 3 miles NE of Hewes Point borrow area. Update as of 7/20/10: Total of 171 turtles have been captured (168 have been relocated, 3 taken to IMMS facility). Breakdown by species is 162 Loggerheads, 8 Kemps and 1 Green. There has been 9 recaptures (all loggerheads) and 1 turtle has been recaptured twice. 428 total tows with a CPUE = 0.40 Turtles/Tow. At the time of this last reporting, there is 2 capture trawlers and 2 non-capture trawlers working with a CPUE = 0.36 Turtles/Tows on this day. As of 2130 on 7/12/10: 59 total turtles (57 Cc; 2 Lk) captured for this relocation trawling operation. 7/09/10 (2 capture trawlers) 20 total turtles (18 Cc, 2 Lk), 7/10/10 (1.5 capture trawlers) 22 total turtles (22 Cc) (One trawler converted to non-capture mid-day), 7/11/10 (1 capture trawler) 11 total turtles (11 Cc), 7/12/10 (1 capture trawler) 6 turtles (as of 2130) (6 Cc). The two non-capture sweep trawlers have been working intensely around the two hopper dredges (Dredge Terrapin Island and Dredge Liberty Island) that are digging material. One capture trawler was working near the dredges and continue to relocate turtles 4 miles NE of the trawling/dredging site. All turtles captured so far today were healthy and not-oiled. None taken to the IMMS facility. No oiling conditions currently seen at the trawling/dredging site. Many turtles and turtle heads seen in the area in and around the trawling/dredging site. The 4th trawler will be rigged to do capture trawling. Once this vessels arrives on site tomorrow, there will be two trawlers conducting capture-relocation trawling and two trawlers conducting non-capture sweep trawling. As of 0700 on 7/11/10: 43 loggerheads captured and 4 kemps. On 7/9/10, 1 lethargic loggerhead transported to shore for IMMS facility. On 7/10/10, 1 loggerhead captured unresponsive/dead at approximately 2000 (7/10), transported to shore for IMMS at approximately 0700 (7/11) and 1 loggerhead recaptured 12hr 15 minute after relocated. Multiple trawlers will be working along side multiple dredges during this project.
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