Imagine a 500 kg leatherback sea turtle swimming peacefully in the currents of French Guiana. Suddenly, it finds itself trapped in a trawler's net. This is what we call "bycatch." Each year, thousands of protected species are accidentally caught, threatening the balance of our oceans.

Science and fishermen have joined forces to change the game with a simple yet revolutionary innovation: the TED (Turtle Excluder Device) net. It consists of a metal grid inserted into the fishing net. Imagine an intelligent "exit door": the shrimp (which are very small) pass through the grid to the back of the net, while the turtles (which are much larger) hit the grid and are immediately redirected to an escape hatch.

Since the mandatory implementation of these nets in many areas (such as in French Guiana), the survival rate of accidentally caught sea turtles has soared.

   Result: It is no longer a deadly trap, but a mere mishap with no consequences for the animal.

   Impact: It is proof that we can reconcile economic activity with the survival of the planet's most fragile species.

Did you know? Leatherback turtles have been on Earth since the age of the dinosaurs. They have survived millions of years of evolution, and thanks to dedicated engineers and fishermen, they have a good chance of enduring for centuries to come.