Marine Animal Welfare

Marine Turtle Mitigation Technology

Technology-based mitigation measures reduce marine turtle bycatch in fisheries, directly improving welfare outcomes for these long-lived, slow-reproducing animals.

Key Facts

Approximately 250,000 loggerhead and leatherback turtles are caught as bycatch annually
TEDs (turtle excluder devices) are legally required in shrimp trawls in the US and some other countries
LED lights on nets reduce turtle bycatch in gillnet fisheries by making nets more visible
Circle hooks in longline fisheries significantly reduce turtle hooking compared to J-hooks
Observer coverage to monitor bycatch and verify mitigation device use is essential

Welfare Considerations

Bycatch mortality in turtles causes immense suffering; available mitigation technologies are effective and should be globally mandated and enforced.

What You Can Do

Choose shrimp certified with TED compliance in catch documentation
Support campaigns for mandatory bycatch mitigation requirements in global fisheries
Advocate for observer coverage requirements in high-bycatch fisheries