The importance of location and operational fishing factors in estimating and reducing loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) interactions in U.S. bottom trawl gear

•A model is developed to estimate loggerhead turtle interactions with trawl fisheries.•Conservation benefit of time/area closures and turtle excluder devices are compared.•An estimated1156 loggerhead interactions (479 mortalities) occurred from 2009 to 2013.•Elevated interactions occur in specific times, areas, and net configurations.•The benefit of closures vs. TEDs depends on how conservation metrics are defined.