TurtlesTurtlesLessons Learned and Lessons Learned and

the Gulf Regional Biological the Gulf Regional Biological OpinionOpinion

Bob PrinceBob PrinceChief, Operations and Regulatory Chief, Operations and Regulatory

Community of PracticeCommunity of PracticeSouth Atlantic DivisionSouth Atlantic Division

Gulf Regional Biological Gulf Regional Biological OpinionOpinion

(GRBO)/Management Protocol(GRBO)/Management Protocol

•Three Divisions – SWD, MVD, SADThree Divisions – SWD, MVD, SAD•Four DistrictsFour Districts

– GalvestonGalveston– New OrleansNew Orleans– MobileMobile– JacksonvilleJacksonville

Executive Advisory Group Executive Advisory Group (EAG)(EAG)

•Operations Chiefs – Three DivisionsOperations Chiefs – Three Divisions– Policy and oversightPolicy and oversight– Decisions, in consultation with Decisions, in consultation with

Districts, dealing with ceasing Districts, dealing with ceasing dredgingdredging

– Communicate frequentlyCommunicate frequently– Meet annuallyMeet annually– Annual review of GRBO Protocol Annual review of GRBO Protocol

Federal ProjectsFederal Projects

•District trigger pointsDistrict trigger points•Reasonable and prudent measuresReasonable and prudent measures•Districts engage EAGDistricts engage EAG

– Four turtle takes – any species or Four turtle takes – any species or three endangeredthree endangered

– Seventy five percent of District Seventy five percent of District “trigger point” limit“trigger point” limit

Federal Projects Federal Projects (continued)(continued)

• Hopper Dredge InspectionHopper Dredge Inspection• Silent InspectorSilent Inspector• Sea Turtle Deflecting DragheadsSea Turtle Deflecting Dragheads• Sea Turtle ObserversSea Turtle Observers• Inflow/Overflow ScreensInflow/Overflow Screens• Pre-trawling Condition and Pre-trawling Condition and

Abundance SurveysAbundance Surveys• Relocation Trawling Relocation Trawling

Federal Projects Federal Projects (continued)(continued)

•Take one or two (Threatened or Take one or two (Threatened or Endangered)Endangered)– Continue dredgingContinue dredging– Simultaneously perform risk Simultaneously perform risk

assessmentassessment– Develop Risk Management Plan and Develop Risk Management Plan and

implementimplement

Federal Projects Federal Projects (continued)(continued)

– At three turtles – District notify EAGAt three turtles – District notify EAG– At four turtle takes – engage EAGAt four turtle takes – engage EAG– At first Sturgeon take – District notify At first Sturgeon take – District notify

EAGEAG– At two Sturgeon takes – District engage At two Sturgeon takes – District engage

EAGEAG– EAG remains engaged throughout the EAG remains engaged throughout the

remainder of the projectremainder of the project(Note – Dredging continues as all the above occurs)(Note – Dredging continues as all the above occurs)

COE Permitted ProjectsCOE Permitted Projects• No District trigger pointsNo District trigger points

• Reasonable and prudent measuresReasonable and prudent measures

• Districts engage EAGDistricts engage EAG– Four turtle takes – any species or three Four turtle takes – any species or three

endangeredendangered– Seventy five percent of incidental take Seventy five percent of incidental take

limit for any specieslimit for any species

• Role of Permittee’s ConsultantRole of Permittee’s Consultant– Dredge InspectionDredge Inspection– Risk AssessmentRisk Assessment

COE Permitted ProjectsCOE Permitted Projects(continued)(continued)

• Hopper Dredge InspectionHopper Dredge Inspection• Silent InspectorSilent Inspector• Sea Turtle Deflecting DragheadsSea Turtle Deflecting Dragheads• Sea Turtle ObserversSea Turtle Observers• Inflow/Overflow ScreensInflow/Overflow Screens• Pre-trawling Condition and Pre-trawling Condition and

Abundance Surveys Abundance Surveys • Relocation Trawling Relocation Trawling

COE Permitted ProjectsCOE Permitted Projects(continued)(continued)

• Take one or two (Threatened or Take one or two (Threatened or Endangered)Endangered)– Stop dredgingStop dredging– Perform risk assessmentPerform risk assessment– Develop Risk Management Plan and Develop Risk Management Plan and

implementimplement– District reviews and concurs – dredging District reviews and concurs – dredging

may continuemay continue

COE Permitted ProjectsCOE Permitted Projects(continued)(continued)

– At three turtles – District notify EAGAt three turtles – District notify EAG– At four turtle takes – engage EAGAt four turtle takes – engage EAG– At first Sturgeon take – District notify EAGAt first Sturgeon take – District notify EAG– At two Sturgeon takes – District engage At two Sturgeon takes – District engage

EAGEAG– EAG remains engaged throughout the EAG remains engaged throughout the

remainder of the projectremainder of the project(Note – Dredging stops at each take – turtle or (Note – Dredging stops at each take – turtle or

sturgeon)sturgeon)

Relocation Trawling TakesRelocation Trawling Takes

• Same for Federal and COE Permitted Same for Federal and COE Permitted ProjectsProjects

• Use as conditions dictateUse as conditions dictate• Plan for Sea Turtle Relocation TrawlingPlan for Sea Turtle Relocation Trawling• No District “Trigger Points”No District “Trigger Points”• Keep ERDC informed on relocationsKeep ERDC informed on relocations• If lethal/injurious take occurs – If lethal/injurious take occurs –

Notifications – District, NMFS, and ERDCNotifications – District, NMFS, and ERDC

Separate RBOSeparate RBO

•Preferred alternative, but, Preferred alternative, but, unsuccessful during discussions unsuccessful during discussions with NMFSwith NMFS

•Separate take limits – Federal and Separate take limits – Federal and Permitted projectsPermitted projects

• If either Federal takes or If either Federal takes or Permitted takes nearly Permitted takes nearly exhausted/exhausted - Reconsult exhausted/exhausted - Reconsult with NMFSwith NMFS