Marine Animal Welfare

Marine Turtle Incidental Capture Survival

Sea turtles accidentally caught in fishing gear have better survival rates when handled correctly and released promptly with appropriate recovery time.

Key Facts

Loggerhead turtles can survive longline hooking if the hook is correctly managed on release
Turtles hauled on deck in nets need assessment for drowning injuries before release
Post-interaction monitoring using satellite tags shows survival depends on release condition
Observer programs document bycatch rates and release quality across fishing fleets
Turtle Excluder Devices prevent most trawl bycatch before capture occurs

Welfare Considerations

Individual sea turtles caught in fishing gear face immediate drowning risk and trauma. Correct handling and prompt release saves individual animals while documenting bycatch for conservation monitoring. Each turtle properly released is both a welfare and conservation win.

What You Can Do

Support fisheries observer programs that document and improve sea turtle bycatch handling
Advocate for mandatory Turtle Excluder Devices in shrimp trawl fisheries
Choose seafood certified under bycatch reduction standards