Marine Wildlife

Wild Sea Turtle Bycatch in Gillnets

Sea turtles are accidentally caught in gillnets set for fish, causing drowning and serious injury to protected species worldwide.

Key Facts

All seven sea turtle species are threatened or endangered
Gillnet bycatch is among the leading causes of sea turtle mortality
Turtles drown when trapped in nets they cannot surface from
TEDs (turtle excluder devices) reduce bycatch effectively but are not universally required

Welfare Considerations

Entangled sea turtles experience severe stress, physical injury from struggling, and drowning. Even turtles that are released may suffer internal injuries that cause delayed mortality. The scale of gillnet bycatch represents one of the most significant preventable sources of sea turtle suffering globally.

What You Can Do

Support seafood certified to use turtle-safe fishing practices
Advocate for mandatory turtle excluder device requirements
Support organizations working to reduce sea turtle bycatch
Choose seafood from gear types with lower bycatch rates