Marine & Aquatic

Marine Turtle Conservation Bycatch Technology

Technological innovations in fishing gear are reducing sea turtle bycatch mortality in longline and trawl fisheries.

Key Facts

An estimated 85,000 loggerhead and 17,000 leatherback sea turtles are caught in longlines annually
Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) in shrimp trawls reduce turtle bycatch by 97% while retaining most shrimp
LED lights on gillnets reduce green turtle bycatch by 40-70% by improving net visibility
Circle hooks in longlines reduce sea turtle hooking by 85% versus traditional J-hooks
Mandatory TED use in US shrimp fisheries began in 1989 following conservation pressure

Welfare Considerations

Sea turtles entangled in fishing gear drown if unable to surface, causing prolonged suffering. Those brought aboard alive may be injured but frequently survive if released quickly. Bycatch reduction technology reduces both mortality and welfare harm at scale. Consumer pressure and certification requirements drive adoption.

What You Can Do

Choose seafood from fisheries certified for low bycatch including sea turtle mitigation
Support campaigns for mandatory bycatch mitigation technology in target fisheries
Donate to organisations working on bycatch reduction technology and fishery engagement
Advocate for mandatory TED use and circle hook adoption in international fisheries management