The loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) is a large, ocean-dwelling marine reptile, not a fish, known for its powerful jaws and reddish-brown shell. Despite being protected under international agreements such as CITES and classified as vulnerable by the IUCN, loggerhead turtles are still incidentally caught—often fatally—in commercial fishing operations worldwide, especially by trawl, longline, and gillnet fisheries. The countries most frequently associated with loggerhead bycatch and, historically, with direct harvest include Japan, Oman, Turkey, and some Mediterranean nations such as Greece and Libya. While direct hunting for meat, eggs, and shells has decreased due to legal protections, bycatch remains a significant threat, particularly in the Mediterranean Sea, the Indian Ocean, and the western Pacific. Efforts to reduce loggerhead mortality focus on modifying fishing gear and practices, but the fishing industries of these regions continue to impact loggerhead populations.
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Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.