At the port of Bisceglie, along the Adriatic coast of Puglia, the fate of sea turtles is often decided in industrial trawl nets. During fishing operations, many animals become trapped and are dragged rapidly to the surface. Some die from gas embolism syndrome, caused by sudden changes in pressure; others drown or succumb to trauma and stress. These deaths are rarely visible to the public, yet they represent a significant impact on Mediterranean marine biodiversity. In recent years, rescue protocols and collaboration with fishermen have improved survival rates. Recovery, veterinary care, and release operations now act as a frontline response to a largely invisible threat, revealing how marine conservation depends not only on policy but on everyday actions at sea.