Marine Turtle Bycatch and Longline Fishing

Marine turtle bycatch in longline fishing operations causes significant mortality and welfare harms, with circle hook adoption and other modifications offering effective mitigation.

Key Facts

An estimated 200,000 sea turtles are caught as longline bycatch annually worldwide
Loggerhead and leatherback turtles are particularly vulnerable to longline gear in the Atlantic and Pacific
Circle hooks reduce turtle bycatch by up to 90% compared to J-hooks when baited with fish rather than squid
Turtles caught on longlines experience physiological stress and may drown if unable to surface
Some fisheries use de-hookers and line cutters to reduce injury during bycatch release

Welfare Considerations

Marine turtle longline bycatch causes measurable welfare harms to individual animals - struggling against gear, physiological stress responses, and injury from hooks embedded in vulnerable tissue. Solutions are technically available and economically viable for the fishing industry, but adoption requires regulatory mandates and enforcement. Circle hook requirements combined with observer programs have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing both bycatch rates and per-interaction welfare harms.

What You Can Do

Support organizations campaigning for mandatory circle hook adoption in longline fisheries
Choose seafood certified by programs auditing sea turtle bycatch and mitigation practices
Advocate for fishery observer programs monitoring sea turtle bycatch incidence
Learn about sea turtle conservation status and bycatch threats to support targeted advocacy