Who gains from saving nature
Ledger 1 : 33 — For each dollar financing nature-based solutions in 2023, about $33 financed activities harmful to nature. (UNEP)
Cases / Fishing ban · United States · 2019–2026

US Southeast shrimp skimmer-trawl turtle excluder device rule (2019) and the Louisiana Shrimp Association litigation

Nature's voice · report
Inshore shrimp fleets may cause 2,165-2,942 deaths of my sea turtles a year, NMFS estimated in 2019; its TED rule is expected to save 801-1,168 a year. Federal Register (via govinfo.gov)
Did nature suffer? Yes. Harm is on record. Accounts differ ↓
Recorded
What the record lacks: 1 disputed See the gaps
Accounts of the harm differ
Whether sea turtles interact with shrimpers in inshore areas
  • Company or project Louisiana Shrimp Association: Argued there was "minimal or no interaction between sea turtles and shrimpers in inshore areas". pelicanpolicy.org
  • Government and regulators NMFS: Estimated in the final rule that inshore fleets may cause 2,165-2,942 turtle deaths a year and that the rule is expected to save 801-1,168 a year (all species). Federal Register (via govinfo.gov)
  • Courts District court and Fifth Circuit: The district court dismissed the case on 27 June 2025 and the Fifth Circuit affirmed on 28 August 2026. Earthjustice

A final rule of 20 December 2019 requires turtle excluder devices on skimmer trawls of 40 ft and longer. The Louisiana Shrimp Association sued in January 2024; the district court dismissed on 27 June 2025 and the Fifth Circuit affirmed on 28 August 2026.

801-1,168 estimateTurtle deaths expected to be avoided each year by the rule
Estimate in NMFS's final rule; all sea turtle species. Inshore fleets may cause 2,165-2,942 turtle deaths a year.

Status As of September 2026: the Fifth Circuit affirmed on 28 August 2026 the district court's dismissal of Louisiana Shrimp Association v. Biden (Earthjustice release of 1 September 2026).

What?
NMFS's final rule of 20 December 2019 requires TEDs on skimmer trawls of 40 ft and longer. The Louisiana Shrimp Association sued in January 2024; the district court dismissed in June 2025 and the Fifth Circuit affirmed in August 2026. Federal Register (via govinfo.gov)
Where?
The US Southeast skimmer-trawl shrimp fisheries covered by the rule, including inshore areas; the litigation was brought by a Louisiana association and decided in the Fifth Circuit. Federal Register (via govinfo.gov)
When?
Final rule 20 December 2019; suit filed 17 January 2024; dismissed 27 June 2025; affirmed 28 August 2026. pelicanpolicy.org
Who?
Gained
Lost
  • Shrimp vessel owners (1,062 vessels) — First-year cost of $3.67 million: $2.29 million lost revenue plus $1.38 million TED costs Federal Register (via govinfo.gov)
  • Louisiana Shrimp Association — Its suit was dismissed on 27 June 2025 and the dismissal affirmed on 28 August 2026 Earthjustice
Harmed
Why?
The rule's estimates are that inshore fleets may cause 2,165-2,942 turtle deaths a year and that the rule is expected to save 801-1,168 a year. The plaintiffs argued there was minimal or no interaction between sea turtles and shrimpers in inshore areas. Federal Register (via govinfo.gov)
How?
Through a final rule requiring TEDs on skimmer trawls of 40 ft and longer, followed by a lawsuit, dismissal in the district court and affirmance in the Fifth Circuit. Federal Register (via govinfo.gov)
6 of 6 questions answered from the record

What happened

The record, in order.

NMFS's final rule of 20 December 2019 (84 FR 70048) requires turtle excluder devices (TEDs) on skimmer trawls of 40 ft and longer. The rule's estimates are that inshore fleets may cause 2,165-2,942 turtle deaths a year and that the rule is expected to save 801-1,168 a year, across all species.

The rule's first-year cost is given as $3.67 million, made up of $2.29 million in lost revenue and $1.38 million in TED costs, for 1,062 vessels. A TED costs $325-550.

The Louisiana Shrimp Association sued on 17 January 2024 (case name Louisiana Shrimp Association v. Biden). The plaintiffs argued there was "minimal or no interaction between sea turtles and shrimpers in inshore areas".

The district court dismissed the case on 27 June 2025. The Fifth Circuit affirmed on 28 August 2026, according to an Earthjustice release of 1 September 2026.

  1. 2019NMFS final rule (20 Dec, 84 FR 70048) requires TEDs on skimmer trawls of 40 ft and longer
  2. 2024Louisiana Shrimp Association sues (17 Jan)
  3. 2025District court dismisses the case (27 Jun)
  4. 2026Fifth Circuit affirms (28 Aug); Earthjustice release (1 Sep)

What was said

Claims, in the words of those who made them.

“minimal or no interaction between sea turtles and shrimpers in inshore areas”

Plaintiffs, Louisiana Shrimp Association v. Biden (argument as recorded) · 2024 · pelicanpolicy.org

Where accounts differ

Each party's account, side by side, with its source. The record does not settle these points; it shows them.

Whether sea turtles interact with shrimpers in inshore areas
Company or project
Louisiana Shrimp Association

Argued there was "minimal or no interaction between sea turtles and shrimpers in inshore areas".

pelicanpolicy.org
Government and regulators
NMFS

Estimated in the final rule that inshore fleets may cause 2,165-2,942 turtle deaths a year and that the rule is expected to save 801-1,168 a year (all species).

Federal Register (via govinfo.gov)
Courts
District court and Fifth Circuit

The district court dismissed the case on 27 June 2025 and the Fifth Circuit affirmed on 28 August 2026.

Earthjustice

How it looked

What was shown, beside what was recorded.

Shown

    Recorded

    • Final rule of 20 December 2019 (84 FR 70048): TEDs required on skimmer trawls of 40 ft and longer.
      Federal Register (via govinfo.gov)
    • Estimated 2,165-2,942 turtle deaths a year from inshore fleets; the rule is expected to save 801-1,168 a year (all species).
      Federal Register (via govinfo.gov)
    • First-year cost of $3.67 million ($2.29 million lost revenue plus $1.38 million TED costs) for 1,062 vessels; a TED costs $325-550.
      Federal Register (via govinfo.gov)
    • Louisiana Shrimp Association sued on 17 January 2024; the district court dismissed on 27 June 2025.
      pelicanpolicy.org
    • The Fifth Circuit affirmed on 28 August 2026 (Earthjustice release, 1 September 2026).
      Earthjustice

    Who gained

    Money that reached nature, beside money that stayed elsewhere.

    Reached nature or the ground

    Not published
    No figure published.

    Gained elsewhere

    —
    Lost revenue, first year (1,062 vessels) estimate$2.29m
    TED costs, first year (1,062 vessels) estimate$1.38m
    A TED costs $325-550.
    Currency: USD · Window: First year. All figures cover the same period. * Estimate built from cited figures.

    Responses on record

    • NMFS (2019-12-20): The final rule of 20 December 2019 requires TEDs on skimmer trawls of 40 ft and longer, and estimates 801-1,168 turtle deaths a year saved across all species. · Federal Register (via govinfo.gov)
    • Louisiana Shrimp Association (2024-01-17): Sued on 17 January 2024; the plaintiffs argued there was "minimal or no interaction between sea turtles and shrimpers in inshore areas". · pelicanpolicy.org

    In court and with insurers

    Every proceeding and every insurer decision on record.

    Lawsuits and rulings

    1. 2024-01-17–2025-06-27Dismissed
      Louisiana Shrimp Association v. Biden (district court)
      US district court · Civil · Louisiana Shrimp Association → Federal defendants named in the case caption

      The Louisiana Shrimp Association sued on 17 January 2024. The plaintiffs argued there was "minimal or no interaction between sea turtles and shrimpers in inshore areas". The district court dismissed the case on 27 June 2025. pelicanpolicy.org

    2. 2026-08-28Defendant won
      Louisiana Shrimp Association v. Biden (appeal)
      US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit · Appeal · Louisiana Shrimp Association → Federal defendants named in the case caption

      The Fifth Circuit affirmed on 28 August 2026, according to an Earthjustice release of 1 September 2026. Earthjustice

    Insurers

    No insurer decision on record.

    What nature saw

    Outcomes measured on the ground, and nature's note.

    Nature's report opens this page. Below: further outcomes measured on the ground.

    Turtle deaths a year that inshore fleets may cause
    2,165-2,942
    All species; estimate in the 2019 final rule
    Deaths expected to be saved a year by the rule
    801-1,168
    All species; expected under the rule

    What we don't know

    Undisclosed, unproven, untried: recorded as data.
    Court ruling exists

    Nature

    • Disputed Whether sea turtles interact with shrimpers in inshore areas

    Did the harm stop?

    The rule has required TEDs on skimmer trawls of 40 ft and longer since the final rule of 20 December 2019, and the Fifth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of the suit on 28 August 2026. The sources reviewed give an expected reduction of 801-1,168 turtle deaths a year (all species), an estimate.

    Who paid?

    The final rule estimates a first-year cost of $3.67 million ($2.29 million lost revenue plus $1.38 million TED costs) for 1,062 vessels; a TED costs $325-550.

    Sources

    Voices on record: — Company or project✓ Government and regulators— Courts— Press and investigations✓ Communities and civil society— Researchers

    Government and regulators

    Communities and civil society

    Connected cases

    Related matters, and cases linked to this one through the same organisations, with the role each played in both.
    Terms used on this page

    Institutions

    NOAA
    The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which leads damage assessment for coastal and marine spills.
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