Sea turtles are ancient mariners threatened by accidental capture in fishing gear. Bycatch causes significant suffering and death for all seven sea turtle species, most of which are endangered.
Sea turtle bycatch causes prolonged suffering. Entanglement in nets, longlines, and ghost gear causes physical injury, exhaustion, and drowning. Turtles caught and discarded may survive with injuries including flipper entanglement, hook ingestion, and respiratory damage. The extended suffering involved in these deaths, combined with the critically endangered status of sea turtle populations, makes bycatch reduction a dual conservation and welfare priority. Modified fishing gear — including circle hooks, turtle excluder devices, and reduced soak times — can dramatically reduce both capture rates and injury severity.