Wildlife

Loggerhead Sea Turtle Bycatch

Loggerhead sea turtles are threatened by incidental capture in fishing gear, causing injury, drowning, and population-level impacts.

Key Facts

Loggerhead turtles are caught in longlines, trawls, and gillnets
Turtle Excluder Devices reduce bycatch by over 95% in trawl fisheries
Injured turtles often die from internal injuries even when released
Longline bycatch remains a major mortality source despite mitigation measures

Welfare Considerations

Sea turtles caught in fishing gear experience drowning, physical injury from hooks and lines, and physiological stress during air deprivation. Those released alive may die from injuries hours later. Longline hooks in the esophagus or stomach cause prolonged suffering before death.

What You Can Do

Support Turtle Excluder Device requirements in trawl fisheries
Choose MSC or dolphin-safe certified seafood
Advocate for circle hooks in longline fisheries
Support sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation programs