Topic 4: Fishing Gear Used in Fish Capture

and Methods
Introduction
Fishing gear represents the foundation of capture fisheries, encompassing all equipment and
methods used to harvest aquatic organisms. Understanding fishing gear is essential for
sustainable fisheries management, as the choice of gear directly impacts catch efficiency,
selectivity, bycatch rates, and ecosystem health. This discussion explores the fundamental
definitions, classifications, and characteristics of fishing gear, with particular emphasis on
distinguishing between sustainable and destructive practices.

Definitions and Classifications of Fishing Gear

What is Fishing Gear?

Fishing gear refers to any equipment, apparatus, or tool used for catching, capturing, or
harvesting fish and other aquatic organisms. This encompasses everything from simple hand-
held implements to complex mechanized systems deployed from vessels. The term includes not
only the primary catching device but also auxiliary equipment such as floats, weights, lights, and
fish aggregating devices (FADs) that enhance capture efficiency.

Major Classification Systems

Fishing gear can be classified using several frameworks, each highlighting different operational
characteristics:

1. By Operational Principle

Entangling Gear: These gears catch fish by entangling them in mesh or netting material. Fish
become caught by their gills, teeth, or body protrusions. Examples include gillnets and trammel
nets.

Enmeshing Gear: Similar to entangling gear but specifically designed so fish push their heads
through the mesh, becoming trapped behind their gill covers. Gillnets operate primarily through
this mechanism.

Filtering Gear: These gears strain fish from the water as it passes through, like trawls and seines
that filter large volumes of water through bag-shaped nets.

Trapping Gear: Devices that allow fish to enter easily but make escape difficult or impossible.
Fish pots, fyke nets, and weirs operate on this principle.
Hooking Gear: Equipment using hooks to catch fish by piercing their flesh. This includes
longlines, pole-and-line, and trolling gear.

Wounding Gear: Implements that capture fish by physically impaling or wounding them, such
as harpoons, spears, and gaffs.

Grasping Gear: Mechanical devices that physically grab or clasp fish, including clamps and
grabbing hooks.

Pumping/Scooping Gear: Equipment that lifts fish directly from the water through suction or
scooping action, such as pump systems and lift nets.

2. By Mobility (Active vs. Passive)

This classification, which we'll explore in depth later, distinguishes gear based on whether it
moves through the water to encounter fish (active) or remains stationary waiting for fish to come
to it (passive).

3. By Selectivity

Selective Gear: Targets specific species, sizes, or sexes with minimal bycatch. Examples
include pole-and-line, spearfishing, and properly designed traps.

Non-selective Gear: Catches a wide range of species, sizes, and life stages. Trawls and some net
types can be relatively non-selective, though modifications can improve selectivity.

4. By Fishing Ground

• Surface Gear: Operates at or near the water surface (surface longlines, purse seines for
pelagic species)
• Mid-water Gear: Functions in the water column (mid-water trawls, drift gillnets)
• Bottom Gear: Works on or near the seabed (bottom trawls, pots, bottom-set gillnets)

5. By Construction Material

Historically important, this classification distinguishes traditional materials (natural fibers, wood,
bamboo) from modern synthetic materials (nylon, polyethylene, steel), which has implications
for durability, efficiency, and environmental impact when gear is lost (ghost fishing).

Types of Fishing Gears: Active vs. Passive

Active Fishing Gear

Definition: Active gear requires continuous energy input and movement to catch fish. These
gears actively pursue and herd fish, typically requiring vessel propulsion or manual effort
throughout the fishing operation.
Characteristics of Active Gear:

• Requires constant movement or manipulation

• Generally more fuel-intensive
• Can cover large areas in short periods
• Often has higher catch rates per unit time
• May have higher operational costs
• Requires more skilled operation
• Weather-dependent operations

Major Types of Active Gear:

1. Trawls Trawls are cone-shaped nets towed through the water by one or two vessels. The
mouth of the net is held open by hydrodynamic forces and physical spreaders.

• Bottom Trawls: Dragged along the seabed to catch demersal (bottom-dwelling) species
like shrimp, flatfish, and cod. Equipped with heavy doors (otter boards) and often a
ground rope with wheels or bobbins.
• Mid-water/Pelagic Trawls: Towed through the water column to catch schooling pelagic
fish like herring, mackerel, and pollock. Generally lighter than bottom trawls and can be
adjusted to different depths.

2. Seines Large nets designed to surround schools of fish, then drawn closed to concentrate the
catch.

• Purse Seines: The most important commercial gear for catching surface-schooling
pelagic species (tuna, sardines, mackerel). The net surrounds the school, then a purse line
running through rings at the bottom closes like a drawstring purse, preventing fish from
escaping downward.
• Danish/Scottish Seines: The net is laid in a circular pattern around a fish concentration,
then towed slowly while the ropes herd fish into the net path. Less damaging to the
bottom than trawls.

3. Dredges Heavy metal frames with mesh bags dragged across the seabed to collect shellfish
like scallops, clams, and oysters. They use teeth or jets to dislodge organisms from the substrate.

4. Cast Nets and Throw Nets Circular nets thrown by hand that sink over fish, trapping them
underneath. Used in shallow waters and artisanal fisheries.

5. Push Nets and Scoop Nets Hand-operated nets pushed or scooped through the water,
common in small-scale fisheries for shrimp and small fish.

Passive Fishing Gear

Definition: Passive gear is stationary or drifts with currents, relying on fish movement to
encounter the gear. These methods wait for fish to approach rather than actively pursuing them.
Characteristics of Passive Gear:

• Remains stationary or drifts naturally

• Lower fuel consumption
• Can fish continuously with less labor
• More dependent on fish behavior and migration patterns
• Often more selective
• Lower operational costs over time
• Can operate in conditions too rough for active gear
• Greater risk of ghost fishing if lost

Major Types of Passive Gear:

1. Gillnets Walls of netting that hang vertically in the water, catching fish by their gills as they
attempt to swim through.

• Set Gillnets: Anchored to the bottom or suspended at specific depths

• Drift Gillnets: Float freely with currents, historically used for large pelagic species
(many drift gillnet fisheries are now banned due to bycatch concerns)
• Trammel Nets: Three-layered nets with fine inner mesh between two layers of larger
mesh, creating pockets that entangle fish

2. Traps and Pots Enclosed structures with funnel-shaped entrances that allow fish or
crustaceans to enter but make escape difficult.

• Fish Traps: Box-like structures for finfish

• Lobster/Crab Pots: Designed specifically for crustaceans with bait compartments
• Fyke Nets: Net traps with one or more funnels, often used in shallow waters
• Traditional Fish Corrals: Fixed structures in coastal areas using bamboo, stakes, or
stone

3. Hook and Line Gear Uses hooks (baited or artificial lures) to catch fish.

• Longlines: Main line (can extend for kilometers) with hundreds or thousands of baited
hooks on branch lines (snoods). Can be set on the bottom or suspended in the water
column.
• Pole and Line: Individual fishing rods operated by hand, highly selective with minimal
bycatch
• Trolling Lines: Hooks pulled slowly behind a moving vessel at various depths
• Hand Lines: Simple lines with one or few hooks, operated manually

4. Lift Nets Nets suspended horizontally underwater, then rapidly lifted to capture fish
positioned above them. Often used with lights to attract fish.

5. Weirs and Pound Nets Fixed installations that guide fish into enclosures using permanent or
semi-permanent structures, particularly effective for migratory species.
Acceptable vs. Destructive Fishing Gear
The sustainability of fishing gear depends not only on the gear type itself but also on how,
where, and when it's used. However, certain gear types and practices are inherently more
destructive than others.

Characteristics of Acceptable Fishing Gear

Acceptable gear refers to fishing methods that are sustainable, selective, and have minimal
negative impact on marine ecosystems. Key characteristics include:

1. Selectivity

• Targets specific species and sizes

• Allows release of undersized individuals alive
• Minimizes bycatch of non-target species, juveniles, and threatened/endangered species
• Can be modified with escape panels, turtle excluder devices (TEDs), or bycatch reduction
devices (BRDs)

2. Minimal Habitat Damage

• Does not destroy or significantly alter seafloor habitats

• Avoids sensitive ecosystems like coral reefs, seagrass beds, and spawning grounds
• Leaves minimal lasting physical impact

3. Low Ghost Fishing Potential

• If lost, does not continue catching fish indefinitely

• Constructed with materials that degrade relatively quickly if abandoned
• Uses biodegradable escape mechanisms

4. Sustainable Catch Rates

• Harvest levels that allow stock replenishment

• Can be effectively regulated through effort control
• Compatible with ecosystem-based management

5. Energy Efficiency

• Reasonable fuel consumption relative to catch

• Lower carbon footprint

6. Legal Compliance

• Adheres to mesh size regulations

• Respects closed seasons and areas
 • Properly licensed and monitored

Examples of Generally Acceptable Gear:

Pole and Line Fishing: Among the most selective methods, with virtually no bycatch. Fish are
caught individually, allowing immediate release of non-target species.

Trolling: Selective for predatory species, minimal bottom impact, and bycatch can be released
alive.

Well-Designed Traps: With proper escape gaps for undersized individuals and biodegradable
panels to prevent ghost fishing, traps can be highly sustainable.

Modified Longlines: When equipped with circle hooks, appropriate bait, and mitigation
measures (bird-scaring lines, weighted lines), longlines can significantly reduce bycatch of sea
turtles, seabirds, and sharks.

Hand-Gathering: Diving and hand collection of shellfish and other species is highly selective
with proper training.

Harpoons and Spears: Extremely selective, targeting individual large fish with no bycatch.

Characteristics of Destructive Fishing Gear

Destructive gear causes unacceptable harm to fish stocks, marine ecosystems, or both. These
practices are often illegal but persist due to short-term profitability.

1. High Non-Selectivity

• Catches large amounts of bycatch, including juveniles

• Cannot discriminate between species
• High mortality of discarded catch

2. Severe Habitat Destruction

• Crushes, buries, or otherwise destroys bottom habitats

• Damages coral reefs, rocky outcrops, and structured habitats
• Effects persist for years or decades

3. Active Killing Mechanisms

• Uses explosives, poisons, or electric current

• Kills indiscriminately over large areas
• Causes suffering and waste

4. Persistent Ghost Fishing

 • Continues catching and killing after loss
• Made of non-degradable materials
• No escape mechanisms

Examples of Destructive Gear and Practices:

1. Blast/Dynamite Fishing Uses explosives to kill or stun fish. The shock wave kills everything
in the vicinity, including eggs and larvae, and destroys coral reef structure. A single blast can
devastate decades of reef growth. Banned worldwide but still practiced in some regions.

2. Cyanide Fishing Sodium cyanide is squirted into coral heads to stun fish for the live reef fish
trade and aquarium industry. Cyanide kills coral polyps and has long-term toxic effects.
Widespread mortality of non-target organisms occurs. Illegal in most countries but enforcement
is challenging.

3. Bottom Trawling in Sensitive Habitats While bottom trawling is a legal fishery method in
many areas, when conducted in sensitive habitats like:

• Deep-sea coral gardens

• Seamounts
• Seagrass beds
• Sponge communities

...it becomes destructive. Heavy doors and ground gear crush three-dimensional structures that
took centuries to develop and provide critical habitat for numerous species.

4. Fine-Mesh Nets (Lamba) Extremely fine-mesh nets that catch everything, including juveniles
far below minimum size limits. These nets prevent adequate escapement and recruitment,
undermining stock sustainability. Often illegal due to mesh size regulations.

5. Beach Seines with Illegal Mesh When operated with mesh too small, beach seines catch
excessive numbers of juvenile fish, destroying future harvests.

6. Monofilament Gillnets Without Degradable Elements These nets, when lost, can fish
indefinitely ("ghost nets"), continuing to catch and kill fish, marine mammals, and turtles for
years. They're particularly problematic when made entirely of synthetic materials.

7. Electrofishing (in Marine Environments) Electric current stuns or kills fish

indiscriminately. While legal in some freshwater fishery surveys, it's destructive when used for
commercial harvest, particularly in marine environments.

8. Drive-In Nets (Muro-ami) Groups of divers pound the reef with rocks or weighted lines to
drive fish into nets. This practice destroys coral structure and is banned in many countries.
9. Poison Fishing Beyond cyanide, various plant-derived and chemical poisons (rotenone,
pesticides) are used to stun or kill fish. These chemicals affect all aquatic life in the area and can
bioaccumulate.

The Gray Area: Context-Dependent Acceptability

Some gear types fall into a middle category where acceptability depends heavily on specific
context:

Bottom Trawls: Can be acceptable in:

• Sandy or muddy bottoms with rapid recovery

• Well-managed fisheries with appropriate effort control
• Areas away from sensitive habitats
• When equipped with BRDs and proper mesh sizes

Become destructive when:

• Used in structured habitats

• Operated without selectivity devices
• Employed in unregulated or poorly managed fisheries
• Used in spawning or nursery areas

Gillnets: Can be acceptable when:

• Proper mesh sizes used

• Set for limited soak times
• Monitored regularly
• Used away from marine mammal concentrations
• Equipped with acoustic deterrents where appropriate

Become destructive when:

• Mesh sizes are too small

• Left for extended periods
• Lost or abandoned
• Used in areas with high bycatch risk

Regulatory and Management Considerations

International Frameworks

FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries: Provides guidelines for fishing gear
selectivity, bycatch reduction, and habitat protection.
Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs): Regulate gear use in international
waters, often banning or restricting certain gear types.

CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species): Affects fishing

practices that impact listed species through bycatch.

Management Tools

Gear Restrictions:

• Minimum mesh sizes

• Maximum net dimensions
• Prohibited gear types
• Required selectivity devices

Spatial Management:

• Gear-specific fishing zones

• No-trawl zones protecting sensitive habitats
• Seasonal closures during spawning or in nursery areas

Technical Measures:

• Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) in trawls

• Bycatch Reduction Devices (BRDs)
• Circle hooks instead of J-hooks in longlines
• Escape panels in traps
• Acoustic pingers to deter marine mammals

Effort Control:

• Limits on number of gear units (trap limits, gillnet length limits)

• Soak time restrictions
• Vessel power limitations

Environmental and Social Considerations

Bycatch and Discards

Bycatch—the capture of non-target species—remains one of the most significant problems in

world fisheries. Destructive gear typically has high bycatch rates of:

• Juvenile target species

• Non-commercial species
• Threatened species (sea turtles, marine mammals, seabirds)
• Species with low economic value
The waste associated with high-discard fisheries represents both an ethical concern and a loss of
potential ecosystem services.

Ghost Fishing

Lost or abandoned fishing gear continues to catch fish, crustaceans, and other marine life long
after it's been discarded. Ghost nets can fish for decades, and accumulations of lost gear create
hazards for navigation and marine life. This problem is particularly severe with:

• Synthetic gillnets
• Traps without degradable escape mechanisms
• Long-lasting materials like nylon and steel

Modern approaches include:

• Gear marking for traceability

• Gear recovery programs
• Mandatory use of biodegradable panels in traps
• Incentive programs for reporting and recovering lost gear

Livelihood Considerations

Gear selection involves social dimensions beyond biological sustainability:

Artisanal vs. Industrial: Destructive practices harm small-scale fishers who depend on healthy
local ecosystems. However, some artisanal fishers use destructive methods when economic
pressures are high and enforcement is weak.

Accessibility: Acceptable gear isn't always accessible to poorer fishing communities. Selective
gear may be more expensive or require different skills, creating equity challenges in fisheries
management.

Cultural Practices: Some traditional fishing methods are highly sustainable, while others
developed under different population pressures may no longer be appropriate.

Future Directions
Technological Innovations

Smart Fishing Gear:

• LED lights at specific wavelengths to deter bycatch

• Acoustic devices to repel marine mammals
• Sensors that detect catch composition in real-time
• Remotely operated monitoring systems
Improved Materials:

• Biodegradable fishing gear components

• Reduced-visibility nets to lower bycatch
• Stronger, more durable materials to reduce gear loss

Precision Fishing:

• Sonar and acoustic technology to better locate target schools

• Reduced searching time and fuel consumption
• More targeted deployment of gear

Ecosystem-Based Approaches

Moving beyond single-species management toward:

• Consideration of trophic interactions

• Protection of habitat-forming species
• Maintenance of ecosystem structure and function
• Integration of multiple stressors (climate change, pollution, fishing)

Co-Management and Stewardship

Engaging fishing communities in:

• Gear modification and testing

• Monitoring and enforcement
• Development of best practices
• Traditional ecological knowledge integration

Conclusion
The distinction between acceptable and destructive fishing gear ultimately centers on
sustainability—the ability to harvest aquatic resources while maintaining ecosystem health,
biodiversity, and long-term productivity. Active and passive gears each have their place in
responsible fisheries, and neither category is inherently destructive or acceptable.

What determines acceptability is the combination of:

• Selectivity for target species and sizes

• Habitat impact during deployment
• Bycatch levels and mortality
• Ghost fishing potential when lost
• Context of use (location, timing, management)
• Compliance with regulations
As global fish stocks face increasing pressure from overfishing, habitat destruction, and climate
change, the choice of fishing gear becomes ever more critical. Transitioning away from
destructive practices requires not just regulation and enforcement, but also economic incentives,
technological innovation, and genuine engagement with fishing communities. The future of
capture fisheries depends on our collective ability to adopt gear and practices that balance human
needs with ecosystem integrity—ensuring that fish populations and fishing communities both
remain viable for generations to come.

Sustainable fisheries management must recognize that gear selection is not merely a technical
choice but a fundamental decision that shapes the ecological, economic, and social future of our
ocean resources.