[1] Mean haul duration was 2.6 hours, ranging from 0.1 to 7.0 hours.

[2] Net type information on 88% of observed hauls was unknown or missing.

[3] Additional information on the climatology data source can be found at: http://podaac.jpl.nasa.gov/PRODUCTS/p111.html

[4] Additional information on the satellite data sources can be found at the following links:
AVHRR: http://podaac.jpl.nasa.gov/PRODUCTS/p216.html
MODIS Terra and Aqua, see products 162 and 184: http://podaac.jpl.nasa.gov/products/product184.html
GOES, see product 190: http://podaac.jpl.nasa.gov/PRODUCTS/p190.html

[5] Bathymetry data was acquired from ETOPO Global 2’ Elevations CD, available from the National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC).

[6] Median depth difference between the beginning of the fishing haul and the average depth over the length of the haul was 7 m.

[7] TEDs are required in the shrimp fishery south of 36°33'008"N latitude though very little commercial effort (~.02%) is present in the area encompassed in this analysis.

[8] Thirty (0.1%) observed hauls targeting summer flounder took place between Cape Charles, VA and Oregon Inlet, NC during Jan 15-Mar 15, 1994 and 1995. During this time and area, TEDs were required; however, TEDs would not have been required here under the 1996 regulation which shifted the TED boundary south. Thus, using 1994/1995 data could cause the total bycatch estimates to be biased low in comparison to years with revised TED requirements. The small percentage of data (0.1%) involved, however, would make this bias negligible. Furthermore, the risk of interaction north of Oregon Inlet between Jan 15-Mar 15 is minimal due to cool water temperatures (FR 59:10584 March 7 1994).

[9] John Witzig, pers. comm. NOAA Fisheries, Northeast Regional Office, 30 January 2006.

[10] The frequency of trips missing latitude information averaged around 18% between 1996-2000, and decreased to around 4% between 2001-2004.

[11] To check whether this assumption was valid, a second method for estimating the amount of VTR effort using TEDs was calculated. In the second method, VTR vessels were assumed to use TEDs based on regulations for requiring excluders in the trawl fishery for summer flounder (see “The Use of a Turtle Excluder Device” under “Observer Data”). Under this method, approximately 2.7% of VTR effort would use TEDs if there was 100% compliance with the rule. Examination of the observer data revealed that there was not 100% compliance (compliance with the rule was roughly 73%). Therefore, the assumption that 1.9% of VTR effort used TEDs was considered reasonable.

[12] Mike Tork, pers. comm. NOAA Fisheries, Northeast Fisheries Science Center , 17 May 2006.

[13] A vessel was considered to have a TED if it operated south of 37°05’N (Cape Charles, VA) to 33°35’N (North Carolina/South Carolina border) from March 16 – January 14 each year, and from 35°46.1’N (Oregon Inlet, NC) to 33°35’N year-round.

[14] See NOAA Fisheries Fact Sheet, Answers to Commonly Asked Questions Regarding Vessel Trip Reports, 15 August 2006 . Available at: http://www.nero.noaa.gov/nero/outreach/VTR-final3.pdf