Global patterns of marine turtle bycatch

A new study published in Conservation Letters provides the first global perspective of fisheries bycatch for marine turtles.

According to the study, which is based on data collected across all methods of fishing around the world from 1990-2008, the total reported bycatch over the same period was approximately 85,0000 sea turtles. The authors acknowledge that, due to under reporting in smallscale fisheries, the actual number is likely higher. Smallscale fishing operations are common along the Pacific coast of Nicaragua where we do our sea turtle conservation work, presenting an opportunity for us to learn more about this threat to sea turtle populations.