Marine Turtle Bycatch Mitigation Technology

Technological innovations in fishing gear design are reducing marine turtle bycatch while maintaining fishing efficiency, representing a welfare advance for protected species.

Key Facts

An estimated 85,000 sea turtles are caught as bycatch annually in longline fisheries alone
Turtle excluder devices reduce turtle catch by up to 97% in trawl fisheries
Circle hooks in longline fisheries reduce sea turtle bycatch by 85% compared to J hooks
LED lights on gillnets reduce turtle bycatch significantly without affecting target species catch
Observer programmes provide data on bycatch rates that inform gear regulation
Satellite tracking of rehabilitated turtles reveals bycatch mortality during migration routes

Welfare Considerations

Marine turtle bycatch mitigation technology represents welfare progress that demonstrates win-win solutions are achievable in fisheries - welfare improvement for protected species alongside maintained or improved fishing efficiency. The availability of effective solutions makes continued high bycatch rates even more welfare-concerning when adoption is not required or incentivised. Consumer purchasing of certified sustainable seafood from fisheries using turtle-safe gear is one of the most direct ways individuals can reduce the market for practices causing turtle bycatch. Certification standards that include bycatch requirements translate consumer demand into fisher behaviour change.

What You Can Do

Choose seafood certified by schemes requiring turtle-safe gear and bycatch monitoring
Advocate for mandatory adoption of turtle excluder devices and circle hooks in applicable fisheries
Support sea turtle rehabilitation programmes and conservation research
Follow advances in bycatch mitigation technology and support their adoption