Marine Turtle Bycatch and Welfare in Fisheries

Marine turtles caught as bycatch in commercial fisheries suffer injury, drowning, and death on a large scale, with technical solutions and fishing practices available to significantly reduce this welfare and conservation crisis.

Key Facts

All seven marine turtle species are listed as threatened or endangered due to multiple human pressures
Estimated tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of marine turtles are caught as bycatch annually in global fisheries
Turtle excluder devices in shrimp trawls allow turtles to escape and are mandatory in US waters
Circle hooks significantly reduce sea turtle bycatch in longline fisheries compared to J-hooks
Gillnets are a major source of turtle bycatch and drowning particularly for sea turtles in shallow coastal areas
Leatherback turtles are frequently entangled in longline gear targeting swordfish and tuna
Injured bycatch turtles may survive capture but face reduced welfare and survival from injuries and handling stress

Welfare Considerations

Marine turtles caught as bycatch experience significant suffering through entanglement in nets and on hooks, physical injury from hauling, and drowning when held below the surface too long. Injured survivors face ongoing welfare compromise from propeller strikes, hook injuries, and flipper entanglement trauma. The scale of turtle bycatch across global fisheries represents a massive welfare crisis that overlaps with conservation concern for endangered populations. Technical solutions including turtle excluder devices and circle hooks are effective and available but regulatory requirements and compliance vary enormously between fishing nations.

What You Can Do

Choose seafood products certified by sustainable fisheries standards that include bycatch reduction requirements
Support mandatory adoption of turtle excluder devices and circle hooks in fisheries operating near turtle habitat
Engage with retailers about their requirements for bycatch reduction in their seafood supply chains
Support sea turtle rescue organizations that rehabilitate bycatch-injured turtles
Advocate for international fisheries agreements that require bycatch mitigation measures globally
Report any stranded or injured marine turtles to local wildlife rescue organizations immediately
Learn about the turtle bycatch issue and share information with others who purchase seafood