The United States appealed the ruling. As shrimp nets drag through the water, they capture sea turtles and tons of unwanted fish along with the shrimp. If the turtles cannot escape, they drown. A metal grid sewn into the net can prevent most turtle deaths.
Shrimp pass through the grid and into the back of the net.
All sea turtles that occur in U.S. waters are listed as endangered or threatened species. In 1987, the United States issued regulations under the Endangered Species Act that require shrimp fishermen to use TEDs or tow time restrictions in areas where there is a significant mortality of sea turtles in shrimp trawls. Since December 1994, these regulations have eliminated the option for small trawl vessels to restrict tow times in lieu of using TEDs. Thailand, Malaysia, India and Pakistan filed complaints with the WTO calling the U.S. restriction on shrimp imports an unfair trade barrier. Shrimp trawler modified by the University of Georgia for scientific research on sea turtles.