Wildlife

Marine Turtle Welfare and Bycatch Mitigation

Sea turtle bycatch in fisheries causes significant welfare harm and population decline, with effective mitigation measures now available.

Key Facts

An estimated 250,000 sea turtles are captured as bycatch annually
Circle hooks reduce turtle bycatch by 80% compared to J-hooks in longline fisheries
Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) in trawl nets are legally required in many jurisdictions
LED lights on gill nets reduce turtle entanglement by 70% in trials
Five of seven sea turtle species are threatened, with bycatch a primary driver

Welfare Considerations

Drowning in fishing gear is a prolonged, distressing death for turtles. Available mitigation measures can prevent the vast majority of bycatch deaths.

What You Can Do

Choose seafood with turtle-safe certification
Advocate for mandatory TEDs and circle hook regulations
Support organizations working on bycatch reduction