Loggerhead Sea Turtle Bycatch Reduction

Loggerhead sea turtles are among the most frequently bycaught marine species globally, with longline and trawl fisheries killing tens of thousands annually.

Key Facts

Longline fishing kills an estimated 200,000 loggerheads annually worldwide
Circle hooks reduce loggerhead bycatch by up to 90% compared to J-hooks
Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) are mandatory in US shrimp trawls and save thousands annually
Loggerheads are listed as Vulnerable with some populations classified as Endangered
Atlantic populations face the greatest pressure from US and Mediterranean fisheries
Sea Turtle Conservancy monitors loggerhead nesting in the US Atlantic
Bycatch entanglement causes drowning in air-breathing turtles within minutes
International agreements including the Inter-American Convention on Sea Turtles mandate bycatch reduction

Welfare Considerations

Loggerheads entangled in fishing lines or nets experience intense struggling before eventually drowning. Longline-hooked turtles may be dragged for hours before the line is hauled. Surviving bycatch events can leave turtles with hook injuries, line cuts, and physiological stress from oxygen deprivation. The scale - tens of thousands of individuals per year - represents one of the largest acute welfare crises for a single wildlife species. Circle hook adoption is one of the highest-impact, lowest-cost welfare improvements available.

What You Can Do

Support sustainable seafood certification programs that require bycatch reduction
Advocate for mandatory circle hook use in all longline fisheries
Support TED (Turtle Excluder Device) requirements globally, not just in the US
Choose seafood from fisheries certified as turtle-safe
Donate to Sea Turtle Conservancy bycatch monitoring and advocacy programs