Trawling

Trawling is a method of fishing that involves pulling a fishing net through the water behind one or more boats. The net that is used for trawling is called a trawl. This method is used to catch marine life such as fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods.

Types of Trawling

There are two main types of trawling: bottom trawling and midwater trawling.

Bottom trawling is trawling along the sea floor. It is also referred to as "dragging". The trawl is designed to catch species which live on the seabed, such as shrimp and flatfish.

Midwater trawling is trawling above the sea floor at varying depths. It is also known as pelagic trawling. The trawl is designed to catch species which live in the open water column, such as herring and mackerel.

Environmental Impact

Trawling can have significant impact on the marine environment. Bottom trawling can cause damage to the seabed and marine habitats. It can also result in high levels of bycatch, which is the unintentional capture of non-target species. Midwater trawling can lead to overfishing of certain species, which can disrupt the balance of marine ecosystems.

Regulation

Many countries have regulations in place to manage the impacts of trawling. These may include restrictions on the areas where trawling can occur, the types of gear that can be used, and the species that can be caught. In some cases, trawling may be completely banned in certain areas to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems.

See Also

• Commercial fishing
• Overfishing
• Sustainable fishing