Commercial Fishing Types: Methods & Techniques

Commercial fishing is key to the global food supply chain. It uses many fishing techniques and gear to meet seafood demand while focusing on sustainability. Knowing the different Types of Commercial Fishing methods helps protect fish stocks and marine ecosystems.

Gillnetting and purse seining are just two of the many fishing techniques used. Trawling, a method that drags a large net, catches a lot of fish, like Alaskan pollock. Gillnetting has also improved, using new tech to reduce harm to other sea creatures.

The gear and methods used in fishing affect its efficiency, cost, and the environment. As fishing evolves, finding a balance between seafood demand and ocean health is key. By using responsible fishing and new solutions, the industry can help protect the oceans and the people who rely on them.

Key Takeaways

• Commercial fishing employs a variety of methods and techniques to harvest seafood.
• Trawling and gillnetting are among the most widely used fishing methods.
• The choice of fishing gear plays a crucial role in determining the efficiency and sustainability of fishing operations.
• Advancements in fishing techniques aim to reduce bycatch and minimize the impact on marine ecosystems.
• Sustainable fishing practices are essential for ensuring the long-term viability of fish stocks and the health of the oceans.

Introduction to Commercial Fishing

Commercial fishing is a key part of the global food supply. It involves catching fish and seafood for profit. About one billion people rely on fish as their main source of animal protein. This makes the fishing industry vital to the world’s economy.

However, commercial fishing faces big challenges like overfishing, bycatch, and harming habitats. Overfishing has reduced fish populations, putting aquatic life and the fishing industry at risk. Bycatch, catching non-target species, can be up to 40 percent of the total catch. This is often due to less selective fishing gear like gillnets and bottom trawls.

Importance of Fishing in the Global Food Supply

Fishing has been crucial for humans for thousands of years. In 2016, over 151 million tonnes of fish caught were used for people to eat, making up about 88% of the total catch. This shows how vital fishing is for feeding the world’s population.

The fishing industry also has a big economic impact. In 2006, it made over 185 billion dollars in the United States, employing over two million people. As seafood demand grows, the need for sustainable fishing practices and fishing regulations becomes clear.

Brief History of Commercial Fishing

Commercial fishing has a long history, with organized fishing dating back to ancient times. Over the years, commercial fishing techniques and industrial fishing practices have changed. This was due to technology and the increasing need for seafood.

At first, small boats and simple gear like hooks and lines were used. As the industry grew, bigger vessels and better equipment, like trawl nets and purse seines, were introduced to catch more fish. Now, the industry uses many fishing industry methods, each with its own benefits and challenges.

Even with new technology, commercial fishing is still a risky job. From 2010–2014, there were 188 deaths in the United States. The industry is working to make fishing safer and promote responsible practices.

Trawling: A Widely Used Fishing Method

Trawling is a key method in large-scale fishing, especially in the Northeast. It involves pulling a net through the water at certain depths and speeds. This way, commercial fishing vessels catch many marine species. The gear and how it’s used depend on the fish being targeted and the fishing area.

Otter Trawlers

Otter trawlers get their name from the otter boards on the net’s sides. These boards keep the net open while it moves through the water. They’re great for catching small fish like herring and mackerel in the mid-water.

Bottom Trawlers

Bottom trawlers catch fish that live near the ocean floor, like cod and flounder. They drag weighted nets along the bottom, which can stir up sediment and harm the sea floor. To lessen harm, fishing rules limit gear size and protect certain areas of the ocean.

Outrigger Trawlers

Outrigger trawlers, or “double-rig” trawlers, are used in the shrimp fishery. They have booms that tow two nets at once. This lets them cover more area and catch more fish than single-net trawlers.

Beam Trawlers

Beam trawlers use a horizontal beam to keep the net open. This beam is usually made of steel and can be quite long. They’re perfect for catching flatfish and other bottom-dwellers because they keep the net on the seabed.

Side Trawlers

Side trawlers tow the net alongside the boat, not behind it. This gives better control over where and how deep the net goes. They’re great for catching fish and shellfish in coastal waters.

Pair Trawlers

Pair trawling uses two boats to tow a big net between them. This method lets them use bigger nets and catch more fish than one boat alone. In fact, pair trawlers can catch up to six times more fish than single trawlers. But, this method also raises concerns about overfishing and the need for sustainable fishing.

As trawling remains important in fishing, finding a balance between its benefits and its effects on the environment is key. By fishing responsibly, following rules, and creating better gear, the fishing industry can aim for a sustainable future.

Gillnetting: A Traditional Fishing Technique

Gillnetting is a traditional fishing gear type that has been around for centuries. It’s used to catch many fish species. The method uses vertical walls of mesh netting that look almost invisible in the water. When fish swim into the nets, they get tangled and can’t escape because of the mesh size.

Gillnetting is popular in many places like Alaska and the Northeast. It can catch target fish well but also risks harming sea turtles and marine mammals. These animals can get tangled, which makes it hard for them to breathe, swim, feed, grow, and may cause infections.

Set Gillnets

Set gillnets are nets that don’t move and are tied to poles or anchors. They work well in shallow waters and catch specific fish types. Fishermen can set the mesh size and position to catch fish without harming other sea creatures.

Drift Gillnets

Drift gillnets move with the current and can be very big. They catch a lot of fish but also harm many non-target species. In 2002, the UN banned large drift nets in international waters because they hurt marine life a lot.

Sustainable Gillnetting Practices

To lessen the harm from gillnetting, the fishing world has started using better methods. These include:

• Using acoustic devices to keep marine mammals away from the nets
• Not using big mesh nets that trap big animals
• Creating protected areas for sensitive habitats and species
• Adding weak links in nets so whales can escape if caught
• Using size-selective mesh and escape panels to catch fewer non-target fish

When done right, gillnets can catch fish without harming much of the ocean. By focusing on sustainable fishing and improving gillnetting, the fishing industry aims to balance catching seafood with protecting the ocean.

Seine Fishing: Encircling Fish Schools

Seine fishing is a top way to catch big fish by using a long net to surround them. This method has been around for centuries and is still a favorite among fishermen around the world. The nets hang down in the water, with the top floating on the surface and the bottom weighted to keep fish from getting away.

Seine fishing has two main types: beach seining and purse seining. Beach seining uses smaller nets from the shore or small boats near the beach. It’s great for catching fish like mullet, salmon, and sea bass that swim close to the shore.

Beach Seines

Beach seines are smaller than purse seines and need a team of fishermen to work together. They deploy the net and pull it towards the shore, trapping the fish inside. This method is seen as more sustainable because it lets go of non-target species and young fish. This helps keep fish populations healthy.

Purse Seines

Purse seining is a bigger fishing method that uses nets up to a mile long from one or more boats. It’s perfect for catching big schools of fish like tuna, mackerel, and herring. These fish swim together tightly, making it easy to catch them all at once.

Experts say purse seines are a sustainable way to. They catch fewer non-target fish, especially when catching big fish like herring or mackerel. But, bycatch increases when catching fish with other species or using fish aggregating devices (FADs).

To keep purse seining sustainable, we need good fishery management and fishing quotas. These rules stop overfishing and help fish populations recover. Using devices like sorting grids and escape panels can also cut down on catching non-target fish and protect the environment.

In conclusion, seine fishing, especially purse seining, is great for catching a lot of fish. But, we must keep fish populations healthy by managing fisheries well, following fishing limits, and using devices to reduce bycatch.

Longline Fishing

Longline fishing is a common way to catch fish that uses a long line up to 28 miles long. It targets fish like cod, tuna, and halibut. This method is seen as better for reducing bycatch compared to trawling.

Managing fisheries well is key to making longline fishing sustainable. Using circle hooks and shorter lines helps reduce bycatch. These changes help target fish without harming sea turtles and seabirds.

The size of longline fishing can change based on the fish being caught and where. Some fisheries use just 25 hooks per line, while others use over 2,500. This shows how longline fishing can adapt to different places and fishing rules.

Even with efforts to make longline fishing better, there are still challenges. The Hawaii swordfish fishery closed in 2000 because of too many sea turtles caught. It reopened in 2004 with new gear, cutting down on sea turtle bycatch. Sadly, about 8,000 albatrosses die each year from longline fishing gear, threatening many species.

When done right, longline fishing can offer sustainable seafood to communities. By improving fishing gear and following strict rules, the industry can lessen its impact. This helps keep fish populations healthy and supports the communities that rely on fishing.

Pole and Line Fishing

Pole and line fishing is a key player in the commercial fishing world. It’s known for being sustainable and caring for the environment. Unlike big fishing operations, it uses a simple setup where one fisherman uses a rod, hook, and line.

This method is very selective, focusing on certain fish like tuna. It also protects other sea creatures and their homes. The fishing rods are made from bamboo or fiberglass. They work with special hooks that catch only the intended fish, avoiding bycatch and damage to the ocean.

This approach not only protects the ocean but also helps people in coastal areas by providing jobs. By choosing pole and line caught seafood, we support a sustainable and fair fishing industry.

Sustainability of Pole and Line Fishing

Pole and line fishing is recognized for its sustainability. It has earned certifications like the “Dolphin Friendly” and “Friend of the Sea” labels. These show that it’s safe for dolphins and good for the ocean.

Choosing the right fishing gear is key. Telescopic fishing rods are great for this type of fishing. They are strong, easy to carry, and versatile.

More people now want to know where their food comes from and its impact. This is boosting demand for seafood caught in a sustainable way, like pole and line fishing. Supporting this method helps create a better seafood industry. It focuses on the health of our oceans and the well-being of fishing communities.

Dredging and Trapping: Harvesting Shellfish

Dredging and trapping are key fishing industry techniques for getting shellfish like clams and mussels. These commercial fisheries practices are vital for the global seafood supply.

Dredging uses a metal rake to scoop up shellfish from the ocean floor. But, it can harm the habitat if not done right. Managers make sure dredging is safe for the environment. Despite the risks, dredging is crucial for industrial fishing strategies, affecting the ocean floor and stirring up sediments.

Traps and pots catch creatures like crab and lobster. They use bait to draw them in, making it a precise fishing technique. Trapping doesn’t usually lead to bycatch, but lost gear can entangle whales. Some places offer rewards for finding these lost traps.

These commercial fisheries practices worry marine experts. Here are some facts:

• Methods like dredging and trawling disturb the ocean floor and stir up sediment.
• Synthetic nets in fishing add to ocean pollution.
• Bycatch is a big problem, catching sharks and dolphins along with the intended species.
• Commercial fishing kills billions of fish every year, causing animal cruelty.

Even with challenges, dredging and trapping are key for getting shellfish. As fishing evolves, it’s important to manage these industrial fishing strategies sustainably. This helps protect marine life and keeps these resources available for the future.

Diving for Seafood

Diving for seafood is a special way to catch fish. It’s different from big fishing methods like trawling. Divers pick out certain fish carefully, which helps protect the ocean.

This method is great for catching sea urchins, geoduck clams, and sea cucumbers. In Southeast Alaska, people started diving for these in the 1960s and 1980s. It lets fishermen take only what they need, keeping the ocean healthy.

In Alaska’s Westward Region, divers catch sea cucumbers. The rules for catching them were set in the early 1990s. They close the fishing areas from May to September to help the sea cucumbers reproduce.

Geoduck clams are also caught by divers. They live in deep burrows in protected waters. Divers take them out carefully, helping the ocean stay healthy.

Red sea urchins are another target. They live on rocky shores in Southeast Alaska. Divers pick the right size and quality, leaving the young ones to grow.

Diving for seafood has its challenges. The deep water and strong currents make it hard to dive in some places. It’s also hard work because divers can’t stay underwater for long.

But, diving is good for the ocean. It catches fish without harming the sea or other creatures. This makes it key for sustainable fishing.

As people want seafood that’s good for the planet, diving will become more important. By choosing to catch fish carefully, we can keep the ocean healthy. This way, we get great seafood and protect our oceans.

Impacts of Commercial Fishing on Marine Ecosystems

Commercial fishing is key for feeding the world but can harm marine ecosystems. The impact on fisheries is big, affecting many species and ocean balance. We must tackle overfishing, bycatch, and habitat damage to keep our oceans healthy.

Overfishing and Bycatch Concerns

Overfishing means catching fish faster than they can reproduce, leading to fewer fish and even extinction. In the North Atlantic, big fish populations fell by 90% last century. Now, fish with high positions in the food chain make up less than 10% of their original numbers.

Bycatch, catching fish not intended for food, is a big problem. It leads to the loss of:

• 85,000 sea turtles
• 300,000 marine mammals
• 160,000 albatross
• 3 million sharks annually

Albatrosses and sea turtles have seen big declines due to bycatch.

Habitat Destruction and Restoration Efforts

Fishing methods like bottom trawling damage the ocean floor, hurting fish habitats. This damage affects about 75% of the global ocean floor. It can take years for habitats to recover, like the gaper clams which took two years to bounce back.

To lessen these effects, fisheries use fishing limits, gear restrictions, and protected areas. Bycatch reduction and sustainable fishing practices help protect marine life. These efforts are crucial for the health of our oceans.

Restoring habitats, like making artificial reefs, helps heal damaged ecosystems. By fishing responsibly and conserving our oceans, we can ensure a future where fishing and marine life thrive together.

Conclusion

The seafood industry uses many fishing methods, like trawling and gillnetting, to catch millions of tons of fish every year. These methods have made fishing more efficient, but they also harm marine life. For example, trawlers in New England can catch six times more cod than single trawlers.

To fix these problems, we need better management. This means using fishing gear that catches only what we want and following fishing rules. The UN banned drift nets in international waters to help protect marine life. Using sustainable fishing methods is also key.

Big countries like China and Vietnam are now big fish exporters, making up most of the world’s fish exports. But, poor countries have a harder time in the fishing industry. They often have less organized fisheries and struggle with trade rules that help big fishing companies.

We need to help these countries use their fisheries in a way that’s good for the environment and their people. Finding a balance between fishing needs and ocean health is important. This way, we can keep fishing sustainable for the future.