Marine Wildlife

Marine Wildlife: Sea Turtle Bycatch Reduction Technology

Technological solutions including modified fishing gear and TEDs (turtle excluder devices) have significantly reduced sea turtle bycatch in some fisheries.

Key Facts

An estimated 250,000 sea turtles are caught as bycatch globally each year
Turtle excluder devices (TEDs) allow turtles to escape from shrimp trawls
Circle hooks used in longline fisheries reduce sea turtle bycatch by up to 90% versus J-hooks
Illuminating gill nets with LED lights reduces turtle entanglement without affecting target catch
TED use is mandatory in US shrimp fisheries and has saved hundreds of thousands of turtles

Welfare Considerations

Sea turtle bycatch causes drowning and traumatic injury from hooks and entanglement. Drowning is slow and involves significant suffering. The availability of proven technological solutions makes continued high bycatch rates a preventable welfare failure. Implementation of TEDs and circle hooks in all applicable fisheries is a achievable and cost-effective welfare intervention.

What You Can Do

Choose seafood from fisheries certified as turtle-safe
Support campaigns for mandatory TED use in all shrimp trawl fisheries globally
Advocate for circle hook mandates in longline fisheries in sea turtle habitat
Support research into LED-illuminated nets for small-scale fisheries
Report any interaction with sea turtles while fishing to relevant authorities