Sea Turtle Bycatch and Longline Fishing

Sea turtles are caught as bycatch in longline fisheries targeting tuna and swordfish, with hundreds of thousands captured annually causing injury and death.

Key Facts

An estimated 200,000 sea turtles are caught as bycatch in longline fisheries globally each year
Circle hooks reduce sea turtle bycatch by up to 90% compared to J-hooks in some fisheries
All seven sea turtle species are listed as Threatened or Endangered under the US Endangered Species Act
Turtles caught on longlines may be dragged underwater for hours before being hauled to the surface
The Turtle Excluder Device TED reduces bycatch in trawl fisheries by allowing turtles to escape nets

Welfare Considerations

Sea turtles caught on longline hooks experience prolonged suffocation as they are dragged through the water unable to surface to breathe. Injuries from hooks lodged in the esophagus, flipper entanglement in line, and exhaustion from sustained struggle cause significant suffering. Turtles that are released may carry embedded hooks causing chronic injury. Given that sea turtles are long-lived, slow-reproducing species, bycatch mortality of even relatively small numbers can affect population recovery for decades.

What You Can Do

Choose tuna and swordfish certified by MSC with bycatch reduction measures
Support campaigns for mandatory circle hook requirements in longline fisheries
Advocate for expanded TED requirements in trawl fisheries operating in turtle habitat
Support sea turtle rehabilitation centers that treat bycatch-injured animals