Louisiana Shrimp Association Sues Feds Over Turtle Excluder Device Rule

The Louisiana Shrimp Association is suing the National Marine Fisheries Service over a costly new regulation.

The rule would require shrimping boats to be equipped with a device that would help them not to disturb sea turtles.

The lawsuit claims turtles don't interact with shrimpers in inshore waters, and that the cost of the Turtle Excluder Device would be "disastrous."

Louisiana shrimpers are already operating on narrow margins thanks to competition from low-priced imported foreign shrimp.