Tiny Turtles Getting Big Help | National Geographic

the warm waters off the Gulf of Mexico

the warm waters off the Gulf of Mexico are home to many different kinds of

are home to many different kinds of

are home to many different kinds of endangered sea turtles one species the

endangered sea turtles one species the

endangered sea turtles one species the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle is still very

Kemp’s ridley sea turtle is still very

Kemp’s ridley sea turtle is still very much in danger of extinction but the

much in danger of extinction but the

much in danger of extinction but the population is making a gradual rebound

population is making a gradual rebound

population is making a gradual rebound thanks in part to a group of marine

thanks in part to a group of marine

thanks in part to a group of marine researchers and Texas marine biologist

researchers and Texas marine biologist

researchers and Texas marine biologist Sean Owen Baker says has the smallest

Sean Owen Baker says has the smallest

Sean Owen Baker says has the smallest species of sea turtle in the world the

species of sea turtle in the world the

species of sea turtle in the world the Kemp’s ridley needs all the help it can

Kemp’s ridley needs all the help it can

Kemp’s ridley needs all the help it can get they’re an integral part of the

get they’re an integral part of the

get they’re an integral part of the ecosystem they’ve been around for

ecosystem they’ve been around for

ecosystem they’ve been around for millions and millions years ever since

millions and millions years ever since

millions and millions years ever since the dinosaur and really it’s the humans

the dinosaur and really it’s the humans

the dinosaur and really it’s the humans fault why we why they are their numbers

fault why we why they are their numbers

fault why we why they are their numbers are going down and we have sort of a

are going down and we have sort of a

are going down and we have sort of a responsibility to make up for that the

responsibility to make up for that the

responsibility to make up for that the turtle population along the Gulf Coast

turtle population along the Gulf Coast

turtle population along the Gulf Coast is making its comeback thanks in part to

is making its comeback thanks in part to

is making its comeback thanks in part to the invention of a new technology for

the invention of a new technology for

the invention of a new technology for fishing nets called the te D or turtle

fishing nets called the te D or turtle

fishing nets called the te D or turtle excluder device this is the actual

excluder device this is the actual

excluder device this is the actual turtle excluder device right here how

turtle excluder device right here how

turtle excluder device right here how this works is this funnel shape over

this works is this funnel shape over

this works is this funnel shape over here is called an accelerator funnel and

here is called an accelerator funnel and

here is called an accelerator funnel and what it does is it passes a large

what it does is it passes a large

what it does is it passes a large quantity of water through a small area

quantity of water through a small area

quantity of water through a small area and that causes the water to be moving

and that causes the water to be moving

and that causes the water to be moving really fast it starts a current through

really fast it starts a current through

really fast it starts a current through here so everything is being pushed

here so everything is being pushed

here so everything is being pushed through this area up against these bars

through this area up against these bars

through this area up against these bars anything smaller than the spaces between

anything smaller than the spaces between

anything smaller than the spaces between these bars like shrimp and small fish go

these bars like shrimp and small fish go

these bars like shrimp and small fish go through the bars and on towards the back

through the bars and on towards the back

through the bars and on towards the back of the net where they’re caught in the

of the net where they’re caught in the

of the net where they’re caught in the back anything larger than the spaces

back anything larger than the spaces

back anything larger than the spaces between these bars it was designed for

between these bars it was designed for

between these bars it was designed for turtles but it also works for sharks and

turtles but it also works for sharks and

turtles but it also works for sharks and large fish because the current is

large fish because the current is

large fish because the current is pushing on them and the bars are kind of

pushing on them and the bars are kind of

pushing on them and the bars are kind of slanted it pushes them down towards this

slanted it pushes them down towards this

slanted it pushes them down towards this opening here in the bottom this flap

opening here in the bottom this flap

opening here in the bottom this flap right here will be held shut by the

right here will be held shut by the

right here will be held shut by the water pressure but as soon as anything

water pressure but as soon as anything

water pressure but as soon as anything gets down inside there it opens it up in

gets down inside there it opens it up in

gets down inside there it opens it up in the turtle can escape and go up to the

the turtle can escape and go up to the

the turtle can escape and go up to the top to breathe and then the flap will

top to breathe and then the flap will

top to breathe and then the flap will close behind them in the past

close behind them in the past

close behind them in the past turtles were often caught in a variety

turtles were often caught in a variety

turtles were often caught in a variety of fishing nets and while the problem

of fishing nets and while the problem

of fishing nets and while the problem still exists today u.s. shrimp fishermen

still exists today u.s. shrimp fishermen

still exists today u.s. shrimp fishermen are now required by law to use the new

are now required by law to use the new

are now required by law to use the new device some fishermen who used the

device some fishermen who used the

device some fishermen who used the device complain that having holes in

device complain that having holes in

device complain that having holes in their nets can cause them to lose a

their nets can cause them to lose a

their nets can cause them to lose a significant percentage of their catch

significant percentage of their catch

significant percentage of their catch but biologists say the new nets

but biologists say the new nets

but biologists say the new nets can also work in the fisherman’s phaser

can also work in the fisherman’s phaser

can also work in the fisherman’s phaser they generally would catch more shrimp

they generally would catch more shrimp

they generally would catch more shrimp throughout the season because this

throughout the season because this

throughout the season because this doesn’t just exclude the occasional

doesn’t just exclude the occasional

doesn’t just exclude the occasional turtle it excludes anything large in the

turtle it excludes anything large in the

turtle it excludes anything large in the back of their necks so they can pull

back of their necks so they can pull

back of their necks so they can pull their nets for a lot longer before they

their nets for a lot longer before they

their nets for a lot longer before they fill up and they get a higher percentage

fill up and they get a higher percentage

fill up and they get a higher percentage of actual shrimp that they can keep each

of actual shrimp that they can keep each

of actual shrimp that they can keep each time biologists at this facility are

time biologists at this facility are

time biologists at this facility are putting a lot of Hope in the success of

putting a lot of Hope in the success of

putting a lot of Hope in the success of the turtle excluder device but they’ve

the turtle excluder device but they’ve

the turtle excluder device but they’ve also developed other research efforts

also developed other research efforts

also developed other research efforts that have boosted the ridley population

that have boosted the ridley population

that have boosted the ridley population like captive breeding with every healthy

like captive breeding with every healthy

like captive breeding with every healthy turtle the species is one small step

turtle the species is one small step

turtle the species is one small step farther from extinction