Summary
Fishery observer data was used to estimate interactions between hard shelled sea turtles and dredge gear in the US Mid Atlantic before and after the implementation of chain mats. A total of 288 annual interactions between hard shelled sea turtles and dredge gear were estimated to have occurred between 2001 and 2006, while 20 annual interactions occurred between 2006 and 2008, after chain mats were introduced into the fishery. If chain mats had not been used during this second time period (2006-2008), it was estimated that 125 interactions would have occurred. Therefore, the introduction of chain mats reduced the rate of interactions between hard shelled sea turtles and dredge gear.