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Trawl fishing
Definition:
Trawl fishing is a commercial fishing method where a wide net, known as a trawl, is dragged along the seabed or through the water at varying depths to catch fish or other marine organisms. This method is commonly used to target fish species that live close to the ocean floor.
The Concept of Trawl Fishing
Trawl fishing is a method of fishing that involves pulling a fishing net through the water behind a boat. This type of fishing is commonly used in commercial fishing to catch fish and other marine animals in large quantities. Trawl nets can vary in size and design depending on the target species and fishing location.
How Trawl Fishing Works
In trawl fishing, a large net with openings is dragged along the sea floor or through the water column. The net is kept open by various means, such as floats at the top and weights at the bottom, to ensure that it covers a wide area and captures as many fish as possible. As the net is towed through the water, fish are directed into the cod-end of the net by a series of funnel-shaped openings called "doors."
Environmental Concerns
While trawl fishing is an efficient way to catch large amounts of fish, it can also have negative impacts on the marine environment. Trawling can cause damage to the seafloor habitat and result in high levels of bycatch, which includes non-target species that are caught unintentionally. Bycatch can lead to overfishing and threaten the sustainability of marine ecosystems.
It is important for trawl fisheries to implement sustainable practices and use technology, such as turtle excluder devices and bycatch reduction devices, to minimize the impact of trawl fishing on the environment.
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