Sea Turtle Bycatch Reduction Strategies

Sea turtles drown as bycatch in fishing gear worldwide. Turtle excluder devices, circle hooks and modified gear significantly reduce mortality while preserving fishing effectiveness.

Key Facts

An estimated 250,000 sea turtles are captured as bycatch annually in longline fisheries worldwide
Turtle excluder devices (TEDs) in trawl nets allow sea turtles to escape with minimal fish loss
Circle hooks reduce sea turtle bycatch in longline fisheries by up to 90% compared to J-hooks
Post-capture handling procedures including correct hook removal and resuscitation improve survival rates
All seven sea turtle species are protected under international law but enforcement varies significantly

Welfare Considerations

Sea turtles entangled in fishing gear drown over periods of minutes to hours experiencing significant suffering. Those brought aboard alive suffer stress from handling and may have internal injuries from hook ingestion. Bycatch reduction measures represent a welfare intervention on a massive scale. Consumer pressure on the fishing industry and retailer sourcing requirements drive adoption of turtle-safe gear.

What You Can Do

Choose seafood certified by programs requiring turtle-safe gear including TEDs and circle hooks
Ask seafood retailers and restaurants about their bycatch reduction requirements for suppliers
Support organizations monitoring and certifying turtle-safe fishing practices globally
Donate to sea turtle rehabilitation programs treating bycatch survivors
Advocate for mandatory TED requirements in all trawl fisheries operating in sea turtle habitats