Marine Animals

Sea Turtle Bycatch and Longline Fishing

Longline fishing vessels unintentionally catch hundreds of thousands of sea turtles annually, causing serious injuries and death.

Key Facts

Longline fishing vessels set over a billion hooks per year
An estimated 200,000 sea turtles are caught as bycatch annually
Leatherback and loggerhead turtles are most affected
Circle hooks and fish bait rather than squid bait reduce bycatch
Many turtles drown or suffer hook injuries before release

Welfare Considerations

Sea turtles caught on longlines suffer from hook injuries, exhaustion, and drowning. Those hauled onto vessels may be stabbed with gaffs or left on deck in the sun. Even when released, hook injuries can cause infections, tissue death, and impaired diving ability. Flipper injuries from line entanglement may prevent normal swimming and foraging.

What You Can Do

Support sustainable seafood certification that requires bycatch monitoring
Advocate for mandatory circle hook adoption in longline fisheries
Donate to sea turtle conservation organizations
Support international fishing agreements protecting sea turtles