Herring seiner

Herring seiner is a type of fishing vessel specifically designed for the purpose of commercial herring seine fishing. These vessels are equipped with a seine net, a type of fishing net that can be deployed to encircle a school of herring and then closed at the bottom, much like a drawstring purse, to capture the fish.

Design and Operation

Herring seiners are typically larger vessels, capable of staying at sea for extended periods of time. They are equipped with powerful engines to enable them to travel to the fishing grounds and back, and to maneuver while setting and hauling in the seine net. The deck of a herring seiner is typically equipped with a power block, a large mechanized pulley used to haul in the seine net.

The process of seine fishing for herring involves locating a school of fish, encircling them with the seine net, and then closing the bottom of the net. This is often done with the aid of sonar and fish finder technology to locate the schools of herring. Once the net is closed, it can be hauled back onto the boat, and the captured herring can be processed and stored in the vessel's hold.

History

The use of seine nets for fishing dates back thousands of years, but the development of the herring seiner as a specialized vessel is a more recent innovation, linked to the growth of the commercial fishing industry in the 19th and 20th centuries. The design and technology of herring seiners have evolved over time, with improvements in engine power, navigation and fish-finding technology, and the efficiency of the fishing gear.

Environmental Impact

Like all forms of commercial fishing, herring seine fishing has an impact on the marine environment. Concerns include the potential for overfishing, bycatch of non-target species, and damage to the seafloor habitat. Regulations and management measures are in place in many countries to mitigate these impacts and ensure the sustainability of the herring fishery.

See Also

• Fishing vessel
• Seine fishing
• Commercial fishing
• Overfishing