Sea turtles are among the most bycatch-affected marine species globally. Their incidental capture in fishing gear causes drowning, injury, and death on a scale threatening multiple species with extinction.
Sea turtle bycatch causes significant individual suffering in addition to population-level conservation harm. Turtles caught in nets or on hooks may struggle for hours before drowning or being brought aboard vessels. Post-release mortality from bycatch interactions includes debilitation syndrome from cold stunning, internal injuries from hook ingestion, and flipper amputations from entanglement. The transition from J-hooks to circle hooks and adoption of TEDs represents proven, cost-effective welfare improvement. However, compliance monitoring in international waters remains inadequate. Consumer pressure on seafood certification programs to require bycatch reduction gear is one of the most impactful individual-level interventions.