Sea Turtle Welfare and Bycatch | Animal Welfare Hub

All seven sea turtle species are listed as vulnerable, threatened, or critically endangered. Fishing bycatch remains one of the leading causes of sea turtle mortality globally.

Key Facts

An estimated 250,000 sea turtles are caught as bycatch annually
Loggerhead and leatherback turtles are particularly vulnerable to longline and trawl bycatch
Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) fitted to trawl nets allow turtle escape
Circle hooks in longline fisheries reduce turtle bycatch by up to 90%
Sea turtles drowned as bycatch may be rescued if found alive with prompt intervention

Welfare Considerations

Sea turtles caught in fishing gear face drowning, internal injuries from hook ingestion, and severe stress from prolonged entanglement. Those that survive the initial capture may die later from hook injuries or from injuries sustained during removal. Beyond the individual welfare dimension, sea turtle bycatch threatens species survival. The evidence for effective mitigation measures is strong — TEDs, circle hooks, and modified fishing practices can dramatically reduce bycatch with minimal impact on target catch. The welfare and conservation case for mandatory adoption of these measures is compelling.

What You Can Do

Choose seafood from fisheries certified as turtle-safe
Support organisations monitoring sea turtle populations and advocating for bycatch mitigation
Participate in beach monitoring programmes for nesting turtles when travelling
Advocate for mandatory TED requirements in all trawl fisheries operating in turtle habitat
Donate to sea turtle conservation and rescue organisations