Turtle Excluder Device Adoption and Welfare

Turtle Excluder Devices have proven effective at reducing sea turtle bycatch in shrimp trawls with minimal catch loss.

Key Facts

TEDs allow sea turtles to escape from the back of shrimp trawls through an escape opening
US law has required TED use in domestic shrimp fisheries since 1989
Properly installed TEDs reduce sea turtle bycatch by over 97% with less than 3% shrimp loss
International adoption remains inconsistent — imports from countries without TED requirements compete unfairly
Several countries ban shrimp imports from fisheries not using TEDs to create trade incentives for adoption

Welfare Considerations

Turtle Excluder Devices are one of the most successful welfare and conservation interventions in the history of fisheries management. Before TEDs, shrimp trawls drowned tens of thousands of sea turtles annually in US waters alone. After mandatory TED adoption, sea turtle drowning in US shrimp fisheries was reduced by over 97%. The intervention preserves fishery economics while preventing massive individual animal suffering. The incomplete international adoption of TEDs means that sea turtles caught in shrimp trawls in countries without requirements continue to drown preventably. Trade leverage and international advocacy can extend TED adoption globally.

What You Can Do

Choose shrimp from fisheries with verified TED use
Support import restrictions on shrimp from fisheries without TED requirements
Advocate for international TED adoption through your government trade representatives
Donate to sea turtle conservation organizations monitoring TED compliance
Reduce overall shrimp consumption to decrease pressure on sea turtle habitats