Sea Turtle Bycatch Reduction | Animal Welfare Hub

Sea turtles are endangered and routinely caught as bycatch in fishing gear. Reducing bycatch requires better gear design, fishing practice changes, and strong international cooperation.

Key Facts

All seven sea turtle species are listed as vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered.
Longlines, trawl nets, and gillnets are the primary sources of sea turtle bycatch.
Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) in trawl nets reduce bycatch significantly and are required in some fisheries.
Circle hooks in longline fisheries reduce turtle hooking rates by up to 90% compared to J-hooks.
Entanglement in gillnets is a leading cause of sea turtle mortality worldwide.
Even turtles released alive may die from internal injuries, ingested hooks, or exhaustion.

Welfare Considerations

Sea turtles caught in fishing gear experience physical trauma, exhaustion, and often death. Even when returned to the water alive, many die from internal injuries, swallowed hooks, or physiological stress. Bycatch reduction is both a conservation imperative and a welfare issue. Technologies like TEDs and circle hooks have proven effective, yet adoption remains incomplete due to cost and enforcement challenges. Stronger international regulations, fishing gear innovation, and consumer demand for certified sustainable seafood all contribute to reducing sea turtle bycatch.

What You Can Do

Choose seafood certified by credible sustainability schemes that address bycatch.
Support organizations working to expand TED requirements in global fisheries.
Advocate for mandatory circle hook use in longline fisheries targeting swordfish and tuna.
Donate to sea turtle conservation programs that monitor and respond to bycatch injuries.
Contact your representatives to support strong international fishing agreements protecting sea turtles.