Sea Turtle Bycatch: Reducing Incidental Capture in Commercial Fisheries

Sea turtle bycatch in commercial fisheries is a major source of mortality for all seven sea turtle species, many of which are threatened or endangered.

Key Facts

An estimated 250,000 sea turtles are captured annually as bycatch in longline fishing operations globally
Longline hooks intended for tuna and swordfish catch turtles who bite at squid bait and then drown
Circle hooks reduce sea turtle bycatch by 85-90% compared to J-hooks in pelagic longline fisheries
Turtle excluder devices (TEDs) in shrimp trawls reduce sea turtle bycatch by 97% and are mandatory in some fisheries
Six of seven sea turtle species are threatened or endangered, making bycatch mortality a genuine conservation crisis
Entangled turtles that surface can be released by trained crew, but training compliance is inconsistent

Welfare Considerations

Sea turtle bycatch causes both individual welfare harm and conservation threat. Entangled turtles experience the acute distress of being trapped and dragged, and those unable to surface drown — an acutely distressing death for air-breathing animals. Survivors of entanglement may carry hook injuries, line cuts, or internal damage that cause prolonged suffering or death after release. The welfare and conservation solutions are well-established: circle hooks, TEDs, time-area closures in nesting seasons, and crew training for safe release. The barriers are economic and political rather than technical — requiring regulatory mandates and consumer pressure on seafood supply chains to drive implementation.

What You Can Do

Choose seafood certified under programs that include sea turtle bycatch reduction requirements
Support mandatory circle hook requirements in pelagic longline fisheries operating in sea turtle habitat
Learn sea turtle bycatch disentanglement techniques if you participate in any recreational fishing with lines or nets
Report sea turtle entanglement incidents to NOAA or equivalent agencies in your country