Fishing Techniques

Pelagic Fishing - The fishing for organisms which live on or near the surface of the water

Organisms Caught by Pelagic Techniques 

- Tuna, Mackerel, Herring, Squid

Demersal Fishing - The fishing of organisms which live on or just above the seabed. They live in shoals so it is hard to identify what species you are catching

Organisms Caught by Demersal Techniques

- Cod, Lobster, Plaice, Haddock

Drift Netting - Nets suspended on the surface and lowered down into the sea. Fish swim past and are caught when their gill valves attach to the nets by mistake. Can cause By-Catch. 

Purse Seine- When a fishing boat locates a shoal of fish it surrounds them with a large net which is lowered down over the shoal. It is then tightened and the fish are surrounded in the net. It is possible to selectively catch particular species e.g. tuna but it can cause by-catch

Mid-water Trawling - A trawler net is lowered down into the sea, and like a bag it picks up anything that passes through it. Mid-Water Trawling prevents the net from touching the seabed surface so it prevents damage to the habitats on the seabed. 

Floating Long-lines - Floated baited hooks are suspended along the surface of the ocean. It encourages the use of traditional fishing methods and individually catches fish one by one on each hook. 

Sea Floor Long Lines-  Long line of baited hooks is suspended just above the seabed. It uses bait to individually catch demersal fish at the bottom of the ocean one by one.

Sea Floor Trawling- This is the most damaging of the fishing techniques. A huge trawling net is dragged along the seabed picking up anything in its path in a "scoop" motion. It will pick up all  sorts of organisms and loose rocks at the bottom of the sea

Lobster and Crab Pots- Baited pots attached to buoys are lowered onto the seabed. Lobsters and Craps crawl into the pots (attracted by the bait) and are caught as they are unable to get out.