Sea turtles are frequently caught as bycatch in commercial fishing operations, causing significant welfare harm and threatening populations already vulnerable to extinction. Effective bycatch reduction improves both welfare and conservation outcomes.
Sea turtle bycatch causes acute welfare harm through the mechanical injury of entanglement, barotrauma from rapid depth changes, and physiological distress from prolonged air deprivation. A sea turtle entangled in a net faces drowning if unable to surface for air, or may survive with injuries including hook ingestion, line entanglement of flippers, and infections from wounds. The welfare case for bycatch reduction measures is strong and well-supported by evidence - TEDs and circle hooks are proven technologies that dramatically reduce capture while maintaining fishing efficiency. The alignment of conservation and welfare goals (protecting endangered species while reducing individual animal suffering) makes sea turtle bycatch reduction a priority intervention.