Wild Sea Turtle Longline Bycatch and Circle Hook Solutions

Longline fisheries cause significant sea turtle bycatch mortality, and switching to circle hooks is one of the most evidence-based solutions.

Key Facts

An estimated 250,000 sea turtles are accidentally captured in longline fisheries annually
Loggerhead and leatherhead turtles are most frequently caught on pelagic longlines targeting tuna and swordfish
Traditional J-hooks penetrate deeply and cause internal injuries; circle hooks allow turtles to escape more easily
Studies show circle hooks reduce sea turtle bycatch by 60-90% with minimal impact on target fish catch rates
De-hooking and resuscitation training for fishermen significantly improves turtle survival after incidental capture
Pelagic longline fisheries in US waters have adopted circle hook requirements as a result of regulatory action
Time-area closures in key turtle migration corridors reduce bycatch during predictable high-risk periods

Welfare Considerations

Sea turtles hooked on longlines may be dragged underwater for hours, causing drowning, deep lacerations from hooks, and exhaustion. Internally hooked turtles face intestinal perforation and peritonitis. Circle hooks, which are widely available and comparably priced to J-hooks, represent a straightforward welfare improvement that the fishing industry can adopt with minimal impact on their business.

What You Can Do

Choose seafood from fisheries certified to use circle hooks and sea turtle bycatch reduction measures
Advocate for circle hook requirements in all pelagic longline fisheries
Support at-sea observer programs that document and reduce sea turtle bycatch
Donate to sea turtle bycatch research programs developing new solutions
Learn about sustainable seafood certification standards that include bycatch criteria