Marine Life

Sea Turtle Bycatch and Entanglement

All seven sea turtle species face threats from accidental capture in fishing gear. Turtle excluder devices and modified fishing practices have saved hundreds of thousands of turtles.

Key Facts

An estimated 85,000 sea turtles are caught annually in longline fisheries worldwide
Turtle excluder devices reduce shrimp trawl bycatch by over 97 percent
Leatherback turtles mistake plastic bags for their jellyfish prey
Sea turtles must surface to breathe and drown when entangled in nets
All sea turtle species are listed as threatened or endangered

Welfare Considerations

Sea turtles caught in fishing gear experience significant suffering as they struggle and eventually drown, unable to surface for air. Entanglement in abandoned ghost gear prolongs suffering as turtles are slowly trapped. Longline hooks cause internal injuries from ingestion. The welfare and conservation stakes are high — sea turtles reproduce slowly and losing even a small number of adults significantly impacts population viability.

What You Can Do

Choose shrimp from certified TED-compliant fisheries
Support legislation requiring turtle excluder devices across shrimp fisheries
Participate in beach cleanups to reduce marine debris entanglement
Report entangled or injured sea turtles to wildlife authorities immediately
Support sea turtle research and monitoring programs