Marine Reptiles

Sea Turtle Bycatch in Longline Fisheries

Longline fishing vessels unintentionally catch and drown sea turtles at rates threatening multiple species with extinction.

Key Facts

Longline fishing hooks kill an estimated 200,000 sea turtles annually worldwide
All seven sea turtle species are classified as vulnerable to critically endangered
Circle hooks reduce sea turtle bycatch by up to 90% compared to J-hooks
Sea turtles can drown within minutes if unable to surface after becoming hooked

Welfare Considerations

Sea turtles entangled on longline hooks experience drowning, severe hook injuries, and exhaustion. Those that survive entanglement may have internal injuries from swallowed hooks. Because sea turtles are air-breathing reptiles, the time between entanglement and drowning is brief. Circle hooks and fish aggregating devices without hooks can dramatically reduce both the number of turtles caught and the severity of injuries.

What You Can Do

Choose seafood certified as turtle-safe by credible certification programs
Support fisheries reform requiring circle hooks in longline fisheries
Advocate for observer programs monitoring turtle bycatch in commercial fisheries
Donate to sea turtle rehabilitation programs treating bycatch survivors