Wild Sea Turtle Bycatch and Fishing Welfare

Sea turtles are frequently caught as bycatch in longline, gillnet, and trawl fisheries, causing drowning, injury, and death for all seven sea turtle species globally.

Key Facts

All seven sea turtle species are listed as endangered or vulnerable on the IUCN Red List
Longline fisheries for tuna and swordfish cause the most sea turtle bycatch globally
Circle hooks reduce sea turtle bycatch by up to 90% compared to conventional J-hooks
Sea turtles can drown in nets within minutes if unable to surface to breathe
Turtle Excluder Devices in shrimp trawls allow turtles to escape without harming catch rates

Welfare Considerations

Sea turtles entangled in fishing gear drown after struggling against restraint, a process that can take several distressing minutes. Hook injuries from longlines cause pain and impair feeding ability. The scale of sea turtle bycatch across global fisheries remains enormous despite available solutions. Circle hooks, Turtle Excluder Devices, and time-area closures have all demonstrated effectiveness in reducing bycatch. Consumer seafood choices and advocacy for fishing gear regulations are meaningful levers for reducing sea turtle suffering.

What You Can Do

Choose MSC-certified or equivalent seafood from fisheries with verified bycatch reduction measures
Support campaigns requiring Turtle Excluder Devices in all shrimp trawl operations
Advocate for mandatory circle hook requirements in longline fisheries that interact with turtles
Learn about sea turtle conservation organizations and their bycatch reduction advocacy work