All seven sea turtle species face mortality from incidental capture in fishing gear. Turtle excluder devices, circle hooks, and fishing practice changes have demonstrated the ability to dramatically reduce bycatch.
Sea turtle bycatch causes both individual suffering and population-level conservation harm. Turtles entangled in nets or hooked on longlines experience drowning, physical injury, and extreme stress. Those that survive capture and release often carry injuries that affect long-term health. The welfare and conservation case for bycatch reduction is identical: fewer turtles captured means less suffering and healthier populations. The technology and practices to achieve dramatic reductions exist and have been demonstrated to work. The barrier is inconsistent implementation and enforcement across fishing fleets and jurisdictions.