Fishing · Reference · Basic
Protected Species and Bycatch: What You Must Not Keep
A turtle, a seabird or a sturgeon in your gear is not automatically food. How to release them without killing them, and who to call when you cannot.
This is for educational purposes only. Not professional medical, electrical, or safety advice.
Warning
Do not keep protected wildlife, and do not cut the line and walk away from an entangled animal. Do not enter the water with a large entangled marine mammal — call the stranding network or the Coast Guard on VHF channel 16.
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Do not keep protected animals
Protected sea turtles, marine mammals and endangered fish such as sawfish, plus protected sturgeon populations, may not be retained without authorization. 'Sturgeon' is not one nationwide legal category — species, population and jurisdiction all change the answer.
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A bird in your gear is not a meal
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act prohibits unauthorized take, which includes capture and killing, of protected migratory birds. A bird accidentally trapped in your gear is not automatically lawful food, even if it is injured or dead.
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Unhook a seabird without cutting the line
Do not simply cut the line and abandon the bird. Retrieve it gently if it is safe to do so, do not lift it by the line, and use a dip net. Control the bill, cover the eyes without obstructing breathing, keep the wings normally folded, and remove accessible gear carefully. A deeply embedded hook or a severe injury needs a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
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Call for turtles and marine mammals
For a sea turtle or marine mammal, contact your local stranding network or the Coast Guard on VHF channel 16. Do not lift a turtle by its fishing line or by its flippers, and keep clear of its mouth. Large mammals and dangerous entanglements require trained responders — do not enter the water or attempt a self-directed disentanglement.
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Keep protected fish in the water
NOAA's guidance is to keep protected fish in the water and release them with as little injury as possible rather than hauling them onto the bank.