Marine Turtle Bycatch: Reducing Accidental Capture in Fishing Operations

All seven species of marine turtle are threatened or endangered, and bycatch in fishing gear remains one of the leading causes of turtle mortality globally.

Key Facts

All seven marine turtle species are classified as vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered on the IUCN Red List
An estimated 250,000 loggerhead and leatherhead turtles are accidentally captured in longline fisheries annually
Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) in shrimp trawl nets allow turtles to escape and have been mandatory in US waters since 1989
Circle hooks in longline fisheries significantly reduce turtle hooking rates compared to conventional J-hooks
Turtle bycatch mortality rates in poorly monitored artisanal fisheries in developing countries are largely unknown but potentially significant
Post-release survival of bycaught turtles depends heavily on how quickly they are released and whether they are injured

Welfare Considerations

Marine turtles suffer and die in large numbers as incidental bycatch in fisheries targeting other species. Drowning in trawl nets, hook injuries in longline operations, and entanglement in lost or abandoned gear cause significant suffering to individual animals and contribute to the population decline of all turtle species. Technical solutions are available and proven: TEDs work, circle hooks work, observer programs improve compliance. The barrier to turtle bycatch reduction is primarily political and economic — fishing industry resistance to mandatory device requirements and inadequate enforcement of existing regulations in many jurisdictions.

What You Can Do

Choose seafood certified by programs that require turtle-safe fishing practices including TED use
Support organisations that advocate for mandatory turtle bycatch reduction devices in all relevant fisheries
Advocate for adequate observer coverage on commercial fishing vessels to monitor bycatch compliance
Donate to marine turtle rehabilitation centers that treat bycatch-injured turtles