Sea Turtle Release Gear is now required for all commercial vessels with a commercial Permit and / or for Hire Hook and Line fisheries
The Hi-Liner “Compliance Kit” contains the following required equipment packaged in a tool bag:
- 16″ Short-Handle De-Hooker with PVC protection*
- 11″ Long-Handle Needle Nose Pliers
- 18″ Bolt Cutter
- Anvil Style Monofilament Line Cutter
- Seat Belt Cutter w/spare blades
- Block of Wood
- Set of 4 PVC Splice Couplings (1″, 1.25″, 1.5″, 2″)
- Sea Turtle Handling / Release Guidelines Placard
Additional required equipment not included with this kit:
Dipnet (handle length must be 6 ft or 150 percent of freeboard height) with a minimum of 31 inch opening.
Cushioned Support Device – A standard automobile tire; boat cushion; or large turtle hoist
*Only one short-handled de-hooker is required on-board if the approved short-handled de-hooker is designed to remove both ingested and external hooks.
Disclaimer: The Hi-Liner Sea Turtle Release Gear Compliance Kit is meant to help fishermen comply with sea turtle release measures contained in regulations published in the Federal Register [76 FR 82183] on December 30, 2011, for the South Atlantic, and 71 FR 45428 published on August 9, 2006, for the Gulf of Mexico. All sea turtle release gear must meet the specific requirements in Appendix F to Part 622.
