Sea Turtle Bycatch and Fishing Gear Solutions

Sea turtles caught as bycatch in commercial fisheries die in vast numbers, with gear modifications and fishing practice changes offering effective solutions.

Key Facts

An estimated 200,000+ sea turtles are accidentally caught in fishing gear annually
Longline fisheries targeting tuna and swordfish have high sea turtle bycatch rates
Circle hooks reduce sea turtle bycatch by 85% compared to J-hooks in longline fisheries
Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) reduce trawl bycatch by over 97% when correctly installed
Observer programs document bycatch but cover only a fraction of global fishing effort

Welfare Considerations

Sea turtles caught in fishing gear typically drown before they can surface to breathe, causing significant suffering before death. Turtles that survive entanglement may have ingested hooks causing internal damage, or sustained flipper injuries from line entanglement. Circle hooks that reduce the probability of swallowing represent a significant welfare improvement for longline bycatch; TEDs that allow turtles to exit trawl nets prevent drowning deaths. These gear modifications are proven, cost-effective, and represent the most impactful available welfare intervention for sea turtles.

What You Can Do

Choose seafood products with verified turtle-safe fishing certification
Support Oceana and Sea Shepherd campaigns for mandatory circle hook and TED use
Advocate for observer coverage requirements that accurately measure bycatch rates
Learn about which seafood categories have highest sea turtle bycatch risk
Donate to bycatch reduction research and gear modification programs