Wildlife

Sea Turtle Bycatch and Welfare

Sea turtle bycatch in commercial fisheries causes drowning, injury, and death, representing a major welfare concern alongside conservation implications.

Key Facts

An estimated 250,000 sea turtles are accidentally caught in fishing gear annually worldwide
Trawl nets, longlines, and gillnets are the primary sources of sea turtle bycatch
Turtle excluder devices reduce bycatch by over 97% in shrimp trawl fisheries
Entangled turtles that cannot surface to breathe drown within minutes
Post-release survival rates vary by injury severity and species

Welfare Considerations

Sea turtle bycatch causes acute welfare harm through drowning, entanglement injury, and post-release complications. Turtles caught in nets experience extreme distress before drowning. Those released injured may die more slowly from secondary effects. Bycatch mitigation including turtle excluder devices, circle hooks on longlines, and fishing effort reduction in critical habitat areas can significantly reduce this welfare harm.

What You Can Do

Choose certified sustainable seafood with documented bycatch reduction measures
Support mandatory turtle excluder device requirements in shrimp trawl fisheries
Advocate for sea turtle habitat protection in key foraging and nesting areas
Support sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation programs
Raise awareness about sea turtle bycatch as a welfare and conservation priority