Sea Turtle Bycatch: Welfare Harm in Commercial Fisheries

Sea turtle bycatch in commercial fisheries causes drowning, injury, and death for all seven sea turtle species, representing a significant welfare problem at the intersection of fishing and conservation.

Key Facts

All seven sea turtle species are classified as Threatened or Endangered, with longline, trawl, and gillnet fisheries as major mortality sources
An estimated 4,600 loggerhead and 1,000 leatherback turtles die annually as bycatch in US fisheries alone
Turtles caught in fishing gear experience struggle, physical injury from entanglement, and eventual drowning
Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) in trawl nets allow turtles to escape and are legally required in US and some other fisheries
Circle hooks in longline fisheries significantly reduce sea turtle bycatch compared to J-hooks
Sea turtle bycatch in developing country artisanal fisheries is a major source of mortality with limited oversight

Welfare Considerations

Sea turtle bycatch causes intense welfare harm. Turtles entangled in nets or hooked on longlines experience acute distress from entanglement, physical injury from hooks or net material, and progressive hypoxia as they are prevented from surfacing to breathe. The drowning process for captured turtles is prolonged and distressing — turtles can hold their breath for hours under stress but eventually succumb to oxygen deprivation. Turtles that survive bycatch may carry hooks internally, have injuries that impair swimming, or experience stress-related illness. The welfare harm occurs across millions of fishing interactions annually despite the availability of proven bycatch reduction technologies. Regulatory implementation of TEDs and circle hooks, combined with better monitoring of compliance, represents the most impactful welfare intervention available at scale.

What You Can Do

Support seafood certification standards like MSC that include sea turtle bycatch reduction requirements
Advocate for mandatory TED use and circle hook requirements in fisheries operating in sea turtle habitat
Contact seafood companies and restaurants about their sea turtle bycatch reduction policies
Donate to sea turtle conservation organizations that monitor and respond to bycatch events
Participate in beach monitoring programs that track sea turtle populations and nesting success
Support international fisheries agreements that include meaningful sea turtle protection provisions