Marine Turtle Bycatch Reduction Welfare

Sea turtles are caught as bycatch in longline, trawl, and gillnet fisheries globally - turtle excluder devices and circle hooks significantly reduce welfare harm.

Key Facts

All seven sea turtle species are caught as bycatch in various fisheries globally
Longline fishing for tuna and swordfish catches an estimated 200,000 sea turtles annually
Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) in shrimp trawls reduce turtle bycatch by over 95%
Circle hooks reduce turtle bycatch in longline fisheries by 60-90% compared to J-hooks
US law requires TED use in shrimp trawls operating in areas with sea turtles
Turtles caught and drowned in gillnets contribute to population declines of critically endangered species

Welfare Considerations

Sea turtle bycatch causes significant welfare harm - turtles drown in trawl nets, are injured by longline hooks through the jaw or flipper, and may be dragged for hours before gear is retrieved. Circle hooks reduce hook injury severity compared to J-hooks. TEDs allow turtles to escape trawl nets before drowning. Consumer choice of turtle-safe certified seafood and engagement with fisheries managers about gear requirements are important interventions. The scale of bycatch - hundreds of thousands of turtles annually - makes this one of the most impactful marine wildlife welfare issues globally.

What You Can Do

Choose shrimp and seafood certified to MSC or turtle-safe standards
Support WWF and Sea Turtle Conservancy bycatch reduction campaigns
Advocate for mandatory TED use and circle hook requirements in international fisheries agreements
Engage with retailers and restaurants about their seafood sourcing and turtle bycatch policies
Reduce consumption of species with high turtle bycatch rates including swordfish and tropical shrimp
Support Oceana and similar organisations petitioning fisheries agencies for stronger bycatch measures