Fishing and Gear Technology

Unit 11 - Trawl fishing gear and operation

11.7.Mid water Trawls
Mid water trawls are used for pelagic trawling. These are conical bags with wide mouth made of light netting yarns and large meshes. Based on the construction of the trawls can be grouped into

• Two seam pelagic trawls
• Four seam trawl (with all the four equal panels for pair trawling)
• Four seam trawl (The upper and lower panels are identical and the two identical side panels are narrow)

True mid water trawls are four seam trawl net with short wings. These nets considered are not fit for bottom trawling due to their lightness and get easily damaged on contact with sea bottom. This gear is known as “fly catchers” among the fishermen.
Gear technologist are in the process of developing new gears like rope trawl, hexagonal mesh trawls, big mesh trawl, Danish trawl etc.