Fishing Gear Types

Single Boat Bottom Otter Trawls

Bottom otter trawl

ISSCFG code: 03.12 – standard abbreviation: OTB

See Tree Map 

Characteristics

Overview

A single boat bottom otter trawl is a cone-shaped net consisting of a body, normally made from
two, four and sometimes more panels, closed by one or two codends and with lateral wings
extending forward from the opening. A bottom trawl is kept open horizontally by two otter
boards. A boat can be rigged to tow a single or two parallel trawls from the stern or from two
outriggers.

Bottom trawls usually have an extended top panel (square) to prevent fish from escaping
upwards over the top of the net. The mouth of the trawl is framed by an headline with floats to
open the trawl vertically and a ground gear, which is designed according to the bottom condition
on the fishing ground so as to maximise the capture of targets living close to the bottom and at
the same time protect the gear from damage and to facilitate movements across uneven bottom.

Accessory Equipment

The horizontal opening of the net is obtained by two otter boards. The vertical opening is
obtained with floats and/or hydrodynamic devices (kites) on the upper edge (floatline) and
weights on the groundrope. The groundrope equipped with rubber discs, bobbins, spacers etc. is
used at the same time to shield lower leading margin of the trawl from ground damage whilst
maintaining ground contact. On very rough bottoms special rock hopper gears are used. The
horizontal opening of the trawl is obtained by two otter boards (in cases, for otter twin trawling,
two identical trawls are towed side by side, there will be in addition to a pair of otter boards, a
sledge between the two nets). There are many models of otter boards: they may be relatively
heavy, made of wood, aluminium and steel or a combination of these, rectangular or oval shaped
and equipped with a steel sole designed for good contact with the ground. Instruments to monitor
gear performance are common in modern bottom otter trawling. Such instruments monitor
geometry (door distance, vertical opening, bottom contact, trawl symmetry a.o), water
temperature in trawling depth, catch, trawl speed and characteristic with selective grid devices
like angle and speed of water flow through the device.

Handling Equipment

The main handling equipment of a Trawlers is a powerful winch with two bobbins (or two or
more split winches each one consisting in one bobbin) for storing, shooting and hauling the trawl
warps. The trawlers operating otter trawls have gallows, gantries or derricks to handle the heavy
otter boards. The net hauling system varies greatly depending on the size of the vessel and the
type of the trawl used. A large net drum can be used for shooting, hauling and storing the trawl
(including spare ones for additional trawls). Light wing trawls may be hauled in by power
blocks. Heavy bobbin trawls may be lifted aboard with gilson winches or quarter ropes. Larger
trawlers are arranged with a horseshoe deck layout for handling the trawl.

Vessel Overview

Otter bottom trawls can be used by side trawlers (are being phased out gradually), Stern
trawlers and Outrigger trawlers. The range of the vessels are from small open boats to
large factory trawlers.

Fish Operation

The trawl is designed and rigged to have bottom contact during fishing and is, depending on the
bottom substrate equipped with different kinds of groundrope with the purpose of shielding
lower leading margin of the trawl from ground damage whilst maintaining ground contact and
easy move on the bottom. In general the trawler tow a single trawl. However, recent
development is towards multitrawl rigging where up to four parallel trawls are towed from the
same boat. Twin trawls can be towed from the stern of the vessel or from outriggers. The latter
technology is widespread in tropical shrimp fisheries where is called quadtrawling.

Target Species

Bottom and demersal species.

All over the world.

Gear Environment

Single boat bottom otter trawls can be operated in a very wide range of depths (from a few
meters to around 1 500-2 000 m), mainly at sea, but also, in some cases in inland waters e.g.
lakes.

ImpactsEnvironmental 

Single boat bottom otter trawls interact physically with the bottom sediment, which might result
in removal or damage of sedentary living organisms (including seaweed or coral) and in the case
of uneven bottom surface displacement of stones or other larger objects. On flat sandy/muddy
bottom the sediments might be whirled up into the water masses and suspended. The short and
long-term impact on the bottom environment is still poorly documented. More research on this
impact is urgently needed.

Species 

The major negative impact of single boat bottom otter trawls on the biological environment is
related to the capture and frequently discarding of non target sizes and species both of fish and
non-fish species. Regulation concerning minimum mesh size in the codend is the most
commonly used methods to limit the capture of non-target fish sizes. In recent years such size
selectivity has been improved by the introduction of square mesh codends and selection devices
like grids. Non-target species are normally reduced by the use of selective devices, like the

Turtle Excluder Device (TED) in shrimp tropical trawls and the Nordmoere grid to reduce
capture of fish in the northern shrimp fisheries.

Fishing Gear Types

Beam trawls

Beam trawl See Tree Map 

ISSCFG code: 03.11 – standard abbreviation: TBB

Characteristics

Overview

A beam trawl consists of a cone-shaped body ending in a bag or codend, which retains the
catch. In these trawls the horizontal opening of the net is provided by a beam, made of wood or
metal, which is up to 12 m long. The vertically opening is provided by two hoop-like trawl
mostly made from steel. No hydrodynamic forces are needed to keep a beam trawl
open.heads/shoes

Plan

Principal features of a beam trawl

Accessory Equipment

While fishing for flatfish the beam trawl is often equipped with tickler chains to disturb the
fish from the seabed. For operations on very rough fishing grounds they can be equipped with
chain matrices. Chain matrices are rigged between the beam and the groundrope and prevent
boulders/stones from being caught by the trawl. Shrimp beam trawls are not so heavy and have
smaller mesh sizes. A bobbin of groundrope with rubber bobbins keeps the shrimp beam trawl
in contact with the bottom and gives flatfish the opportunity to escape.
Handling Equipment

Beam trawl is normally towed on outriggers, one trawl on each side.

Vessel Overview Beam trawlers are in most cases specialized medium size vessels, equipped
with powerful engines arranged with large outriggers tow two parallel beam trawls.

Fish OperationClose bottom contact is necessary for successful operation. To avoid bycatch
of most juvenile fishes selectivity devices are assembled (sieve nets, sorting grids, escape
holes). While targeting flatfish the beam trawls are towed with up to seven knots, therefore the
gear is very heavy; the largest gears weight up to 10 tonnes. The towing speed for shrimp is
between 2.5 and 3 knots.

Target Species

Beam trawls are used mainly for flatfish and shrimp fishing.

Water Area Overview

This technique is very successful used in many parts of the world for catching shrimp and
flatfish normally in shallower depth than 100 meters.

Gear Environment

Beam trawls are towed with very close bottom contact.

Impacts Species 

Conclusions from some recent research on the physical impact of beam trawls on the sea bed
are: 1) the penetration depth of a beam trawl depends on sediment characteristics and varies
between 1 cm and 8 cm; 2) the pressure force exerted on the sea floor is strongly related to
towing speed and the warp length to depth ratio; 3) beam trawls leave detectable marks on the
seabed. The duration that the beam trawl marks remain visible depends on the upper sediment
layer and on the hydrographic conditions. On the seabed consisting of medium to coarse sand,
tracks have been observed to remain visible for up to 6 days. On sediments with mainly finer
particles a corresponding figure of 37 hours was observed. The major impact of beam trawl on
species is capture and removal from the ecosystem of small sized organisms (juveniles) and
non-target species, which frequently are discarded at sea. Sieve netting and selection grids
together with larger codend mesh sizes are used to mitigate this problem, particularly in shrimp
trawl fisheries. Square mesh panels are used with some success to reduce capture of non
targets species in flatfish fisheries.

Fishing Gear Types

Pots
 

Pots

Source: FAO-Fish.Tech.Pap.222, p. 45

ISSCFG code: 08.2 – standard abbreviation: FPO

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Characteristics

Overview

A pot is designed in the form of cages or baskets, small or large (with dimensions ranging from
around half a meter to two), made from various materials (wood, wicker, metal rods, wire
netting, plastic etc.). They might have one or more openings or entrances. Most of the pots are
set on the bottom, while a few models are designed to be in mid-water. Pots are used with or
without bait, depending on the target species. The bait is composed usually by pieces of fish,
but also common is the use of artificial flavourished baits. Pots are frequently set in rows.

Handling Equipment

Pots are hauled either by hand (if the depth is not too large and if there are only a few pots to
be retrieved) or with a pot hauler or line coilers (for deep water fishing or hauling a series of
pots).

Vessel Overview

A small open boat may set one to three large pots inshore; larger decked artisanal unit, 15-20
m long may set one hundred or more pots up to the hedge of the continental shelf; an industrial
potter, up to almost 50 m long, will sets hundreds of pot far offshore, i.e. for king crab fishing
in the North Pacific.

Fish Operation

Pots are usually set on the bottom, mostly with bait, single or in rows/strings connected to a
line (longline system). The fish, cephalopodes and/or crustaceans may enter either for
sheltering or attracted by a bait, but are hampered from coming out. The soaking time may last
from one or two hours to almost a full day, sometime more but the most common is that fishers
haul their pots every day. In order to accommodate more pots on the limited space available on
the deck of a vessel, certain models of pots are either collapsible or designed in such a way that
they can be piled one upon each other.

Target Species

Pots are used to catch crustaceans (lobster, crabs, shrimps), shellfish, octopus, and all kinds of
reef fish.

Water Area Overview

All over the world.

Gear Environment

Pots are generally operated in a very wide range of depths, either in inland, in estuarine and in
marine waters. While some pots are set on smooth, muddy or sandy bottom for catching
shrimp or fish, most of them work best when set close to rocks, reefs, coral or wrecks. Certain
models of pot are set in mid-water for pelagic fish.

Impacts Environmental 

he size of the mesh (diamond plastic or square wire) or the distance between the slats are
making, to a certain extent, a selection letting the smallest individual to escape; in addition, in
more and more fisheries, a regulation imposes that an "escape panel" is included on one side of
the pot. When a pot is lost, it may continue to fish for some time; this is known as "Ghost
fishing"; it will be limited if, at least a part of the pot is made from biodegradable material.

Fishing Gear Types

Trammel nets
 

Trammel nets

Source: FAO-Fish.Tech.Pap.222, p. 42

ISSCFG code: 07.5 – standard abbreviation: GTR See Tree Map 

Characteristics

Overview

A trammel net consists of two/three layers of netting with a slack small mesh inner netting
between two layers of large mesh netting within which fish will entangle. These nets are
strings of single, double or triple netting walls kept more or less vertical by floats on the
headrope and mostly by weights on the groundrope. These are occasionally set in strings.

Accessory Equipment

Small solid floats, usually made of plastic and either cylindrical or egg-shaped, are attached to
the head rope and lead weights are evenly distributed along the ground rope.

Handling Equipment

Most trammel nets use to be hauled by hand. Modern gillnet haulers may also be used for
hauling the nets. Net drums are also, occasionally, employed.

Vessel Overview

 Gillnetters.

Fish Operation

Trammel nets are most common as stationary gear, but they can also be used drifting. The fish
entangle themselves in a pocket of small mesh webbing between the two layers and large
meshed walls. Afterwards, the trammel nets are hauled back to the surface for extracting the
entangling fish from the netting.

Target Species

Demersal species, fish and crustaceans.

Water Area Overview

All over the world.

Gear Environment

These nets are especially used to fish at, or near to, the bottom in inland and marine waters.

ImpactsSpecies 

"Ghost" fishing of lost gears and capture of small sized organisms and non-target species,
which are frequently discarded at sea. Such impact can be mitigated by using larger meshes.
However, compared to gillnets the selectivity of trammel nets are lower and catches of small
organisms and non-target species are common.

Fishing Gear Types

Pumps

Pumps See Tree Map 

ISSCFG code: 10.3 – standard abbreviation: MPM

Characteristics

Overview

Pumps as fishing gear can be used only for the harvest of dense concentrations of small
species (or cephalopods) not too far from the surface (but occasionally up to almost 100
meters). Mostly the fish is attracted and concentrated by artificial lights. With pumps the prey
is taken on board. Because of the limited area of light attraction and effects of suction and
performance of the pumps, this technology can be used only for a few species. The method is
not very commonly used. Notes: Pump fishing here in reference should not be mixed with
some other use of pump: - On board larger trawlers or purse seiners (for small pelagic fish) to
get the catch on board (for emptying the codend of the trawl or the bunt of the seine net). -
When dredging with hydraulic dredge.

Handling Equipment

Pump fishing is mostly carried out in connection with light attraction.

Vessel Overview

The few vessel using pump for fishing are, in general, 20 to 30 m long and equipped for
attracting fish with light.

Fish Operation

The fish are attracted by light from the depths and concentrated to the area of the suction
nozzle. Thereafter the fish are taken on board the fishing vessel by means of a pump. Brief
dimming of the lights and brief periodical changes in the depth of fishing increased the catch.

Target Species

This method is limited to a small number of species, especially small pelagic fish and
cephalopods.

Water Area Overview

All over the world.

Gear Environment

Pumps can be employed in inland and sea waters, mainly within surface waters.

Impacts Species

No negative impact was ever observed since this fishing is carried out off the bottom and the
effectiveness of the pump is limited to a small area around. No bycatch.

Fishing Gear Types

Combined gillnets-trammel Nets

Combined gillnets-trammel nets See Tree Map 

Characteristics

Overview

This bottom-set gear consists in two parts: - an upper one being a standard gillnet where semi-
demersal or pelagic fish may be gilled and - lower part being a trammel net where bottom fish
may entangle. As standard gillnets or trammel nets the combined nets are maintained more or
less vertical by floats on the upper line (headrope) and weights on the ground-line (footrope).

Accessory Equipment

Small solid floats, usually made of plastic or any other floating material, cylindrical, oval or
egg-shaped, are attached to the headrope. Lead weights or any sinkers are evenly distributed
along the ground-line. This line can also be made of lead cored rope which does not need any
additional weight.

Handling Equipment

Traditionally combined nets were hauled by hand, especially on smaller boats. Recently
hydraulic driven net haulers are commonly used.

Vessel Overview Gillnetters.

Fish Operation

Such nets are set on the bottom. After a certain time depending on target species, they are
hauled on board by hand or with a net hauler. The gilled, entangled or enmeshed fish are
removed from the net by hand.

Target Species

These nets may catch bottom fish in the lower trammel net part, together with semi demersal
or pelagic fish in the upper gillnet part.

Water Area Overview

Nets combined in this way have their origin in Mediterranean (Spain, Morocco, France,
Malta, and Greece) and from there it has spread over many parts of the world.

Gear Environment

These nets may be used to fish above and close to the bottom mainly in marine waters.

ImpactsSpecies 

Ghost fishing of lost gears and catch of diving seabirds are the most concerned impacts.

Fishing Gear Types

Stationary Uncovered Pound Nets

Stationary uncovered pound nets

ISSCFG code: 08.1 – standard abbreviation: FPN

See Tree Map 

Characteristics

Overview

Stationary uncovered pound nets consist usually of net walls anchored or fixed on stakes,
reaching from the bottom to the surface. The nets are open at the surface and include various
types of fish herding and retaining devices. They are mostly divided into chambers closed at the
bottom by netting. In Japan this group is usually referred to as 'set-nets' (not to be confused with
the fixed gillnets).

Handling Equipment

These gears are usually hauled by hand.

Vessel Overview

Usually small size open boats.

Fish Operation

They are set close to the shore line in shallow waters direct in the migration tracks of the fishes.
The fish enters voluntarily, but is hampered from coming out. Fishermen visit traps every day
collecting only the captures and leaving the gears set in the same place for the whole season.
Target Species

These gears are used especially to catch migrating species, mainly pelagic fish.

Water Area Overview

All over the world.

Gear Environment

Stationary uncovered pound nets are generally operated in coastal zone sand shallow waters,
either in inland, in estuarine and sea waters.

ImpactsSpecies 

The potentially negative impact produced by this type of gears may result from bycatch/discards
of undersize and juvenile specimens, no marketable specimens, non target species, etc.,
occasionally, in certain areas, incidental catch of a marine mammal such as seal.

Fishing Gear Types

Stow nets

Stow nets

Source: FAO-Fish.Tech.Pap.222, p. 48

ISSCFG code: 08.4 – standard abbreviation: FSN See Tree Map 

Overview

This is a stationary gear made from netting, usually in the form of a cone or pyramid. Stow
nets can be fixed for a long time at the same place in rows. These nets are fixed by means of
anchors or stakes, placed according to the direction and strength of the current. The mouths
are sometimes held open by a frame, which may or may not be supported by a boat.

Handling Equipment

The bag ending the cone or pyramid of nettings gears are usually hauled by hand while the
body is left in position.

Vessel Overview

Usually small size undecked vessels are necessary, only, for visiting the bag and taking the
fish.

Fish Operation

The fish or other organisms entering, more or less voluntarily, are caught by filtering.
Permanent current is necessary for the operation.

Target Species

Fresh water and marine fishes.

Water Area Overview

All over the world.

Gear Environment

These gears used in rivers, estuaries or shallow coastal waters areas with strong currents.
Because of the precondition of strong currents in one direction they are not often used in open
marine waters.

ImpactsSpecies 

Because of very small mesh commonly used in the bag of stow nets and the setting of this
type of gear in coastal areas, the catch of juveniles and fish fry are common and this may have
a negative impact on living resources.
Fishing Gear Types

Aerial traps

Aerial trap

Source: FAO-Fish.Tech.Pap.222, p. 50

ISSCFG code: 08.6 – standard abbreviation: FAR See Tree Map 

Characteristics

Overview

Jumping fish and gliding fish can be caught on the surface in boxes, rafts, boats and nets
("verandah nets"). Sometimes the fish are frightened to get them to jump out of the water.

Handling Equipment

The setting and use of such gears is done by hand and do not require specific equipment.

Vessel Overview

Usually used from small size open boats.

Fish Operation

Fishermen have learned to use the jumping habit of fish to catch them setting boxes, rafts, nets
on the water surface or using boats. Sometimes the fish are frightened to get them to jump out
of the water.

Target Species

Jumping fish (e.g. mullets) and gliding fish (flying fish).

All over the world.

Gear Environment

Aerial traps are generally operated in coastal zones either in inland, in estuarine and sea
waters. They are usually set on the surface
Saan gawa, material

How it works explain

place country practices

oictures

Otter trawl is a type of net or fishing gear. It consists mainly of two parts: the otter board, which
hangs vertically in the water, and the otters themselves, usually consisting of floats enclosing one
or more lines with hooks dangling from them.

The net is designed to trap fish against the bottom of the ocean as they are chased by predators
who are also caught in it. The name is derived from its original designer's use of an otter's body
as bait for this type of trap.
A boat seine is a trawling fishing net with rings set on the lower edge extending up to the surface
of the water. It is large enough to enclose a school of fish. The edges are then hauled in as it
drags along the bottom and any fish trapped by the net float up and out of it. This fishing
technique was developed in Portugal, where it has been used for centuries to catch abundant
shoals of anchovies and sardines near shore.