Reptiles

Marine Turtle Bycatch: Longlines, Trawls, and Drowning

All seven sea turtle species are caught as bycatch in fisheries; drowning in fishing gear is a major cause of turtle mortality.

Key Facts

An estimated 200,000 sea turtles are caught in longline fisheries annually
Trawl nets drag turtles to fatal depths and drown those that cannot escape
TEDs in US shrimp trawls have reduced turtle bycatch by 97%
Circle hooks reduce sea turtle longline bycatch by up to 90% compared to J-hooks
Many countries with high sea turtle bycatch have no mandatory bycatch reduction requirements

Welfare Considerations

Turtles caught in longlines become hooked through the mouth, flipper, or body and drown as the line holds them underwater. In trawl nets, they are dragged along the bottom at depths that prevent breathing until drowned or crushed. Death by drowning in a large, air-breathing reptile is prolonged. Each turtle that dies as bycatch was not the intended catch and could have been avoided with available technology.

What You Can Do

Choose seafood certified by MSC or similar standards with bycatch reduction requirements
Advocate for mandatory bycatch reduction device requirements in your country
Support Sea Turtle Conservancy conservation and bycatch research
Donate to Oceana bycatch reduction campaigns
Reduce shrimp consumption from countries without mandatory TED requirements