Wild Sea Turtle Bycatch Reduction Strategies

Evidence-based strategies to reduce sea turtle bycatch in fisheries and protect these ancient reptiles.

Key Facts

All seven sea turtle species are listed as threatened or endangered under IUCN criteria
An estimated 250,000 sea turtles are captured and injured or killed as bycatch each year globally
Longline fisheries targeting tuna and swordfish are major sources of sea turtle bycatch
Turtle Excluder Devices in shrimp trawls reduce turtle bycatch by over 97% when properly used
Circle hooks instead of J-hooks in longline fisheries significantly reduce turtle ingestion rates
LED light attachments on gill nets reduce sea turtle entanglement without affecting target fish catch

Welfare Considerations

Sea turtle bycatch causes significant welfare harm to individual animals: entanglement stress, injury from hooks and nets, drowning, and in many cases prolonged death. The welfare cost is compounded by the conservation threat to multiple endangered species. Effective bycatch reduction technology exists and works — Turtle Excluder Devices, circle hooks, and illuminated nets — but requires industry adoption and regulatory enforcement to achieve scale. Consumer purchasing choices that reward certified sustainable fisheries create market incentives for adoption of turtle-safe fishing gear.

What You Can Do

Choose seafood bearing MSC certification or other sustainable fisheries labels that address turtle bycatch
Support Sea Turtle Conservancy and similar organizations working on bycatch reduction programs
Advocate for mandatory Turtle Excluder Device requirements in shrimp fishing globally
Report suspected illegal turtle fishing or trade to wildlife authorities