Wildlife

Sea Turtle Bycatch and Drowning

Sea turtles breathe air but are caught in fishing gear and drown in massive numbers each year, threatening populations already vulnerable to extinction.

Key Facts

All seven sea turtle species are threatened or endangered
Longline fishing is estimated to catch 200,000 sea turtles annually
Turtles must surface to breathe and drown if held underwater in nets
Turtle Excluder Devices reduce bycatch by over 90% when used

Welfare Considerations

Drowned sea turtles experience prolonged suffering before death. Those released alive may still die from internal injuries or exhaustion. Longlines, trawl nets, and gill nets kill hundreds of thousands annually despite widely available mitigation technology. Enforcement remains the critical gap.

What You Can Do

Support fisheries certified by Marine Stewardship Council with turtle-safe practices
Advocate for mandatory Turtle Excluder Device requirements
Reduce seafood consumption from high-bycatch fisheries
Support organizations monitoring and prosecuting illegal fishing