Sea Turtle Bycatch and Nesting Protection

Sea turtles face twin threats from fishing bycatch and nesting habitat disturbance, with targeted interventions protecting both individual welfare and population recovery.

Key Facts

Loggerhead and leatherback turtles face bycatch as a primary mortality threat globally
Turtle Excluder Devices in trawl nets reduce sea turtle capture by up to 97%
Nesting beaches require darkness - artificial lighting disorients hatchlings and nesting females
Beach armoring and shoreline development eliminates nesting habitat required for population recovery
Nest relocation programs protect eggs from flooding and erosion with documented recovery success
Climate change is feminizing sea turtle populations as warmer incubation temperatures produce female-biased clutches

Welfare Considerations

Bycatch drowning is a painful, distressing death for air-breathing sea turtles unable to surface while entangled in fishing gear. Hatchlings disoriented by beach lighting exhaust themselves and face dehydration, predation, and crushing by vehicles. Both welfare harms are preventable - TEDs address bycatch and lighting management protects hatchlings. The welfare and conservation cases align perfectly for sea turtle protection.

What You Can Do

Support seafood from fisheries using Turtle Excluder Devices in their trawl nets
Participate in beach lighting management programs in sea turtle nesting areas
Join beach nest monitoring volunteer programs during nesting seasons
Advocate for mandatory TED requirements in shrimp trawl fisheries
Reduce plastic waste that creates debris sea turtles ingest as jellyfish
Support sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation organizations that treat injured individuals