Among the various occupations humanity has engaged in throughout history, fishing is one of the oldest.

From the earliest days of human civilization, fishermen have played a vital role in providing seafood for communities worldwide.

While traditional methods of fishing, such as hand-casting nets or using simple boats, have persisted for centuries, the advent of mechanized offshore fishing vessels has revolutionized the industry, making them the primary means of harvesting seafood on a large scale.

Today, fishermen utilize diverse techniques and equipment to harvest various types of seafood from the oceans. Different fishing boats are equipped with specialized gear and employ distinct methods to catch their quarry. Let's delve into some of these techniques and how they operate.

1. Trawling

Trawling is a widely practiced fishing method where a boat drags a fishing net through the water, effectively "scooping" up fish and other marine life. The challenge with trawling lies in maintaining the size of the net opening while it's being towed. To address this, fishermen have developed several solutions.

One approach involves using long rigid truss rods that help keep the mouth of the net open to a desired width. However, this method has limitations, as the shape of the net's mouth often remains insufficiently vast, and the addition of truss rods makes the net bulky and unwieldy.

In the mid-20th century, a more efficient solution emerged in the form of mesh trawls. These nets feature water-retaining plates on either side, which expand outward when dragged through the water, ensuring the net remains open.

Alternatively, some fishermen employ the tactic of double-boat trawling, wherein two vessels tow the net together. While effective, this method demands precise coordination between the boats and is less commonly used than single-boat trawling.

Trawling is favored for its simplicity and versatility, allowing fishermen to target various species across marine environments. Some trawlers deploy floating nets to capture fish in open waters, while others use bottom trawls equipped with counterweights to harvest crustaceans from the seabed.

However, bottom trawlers must operate in sediment-dominated seabeds to prevent damage to the fragile nets caused by rocks or coral reefs.

2. Purse Seining

Purse seining targets fish near the surface of the water. This method involves encircling a school of fish with a large net, then drawing closed at the bottom like a purse. Fishing vessels designed for purse seining require flexible hulls to maneuver swiftly and efficiently in circular motions.

Booms mounted on these vessels continuously release the net, which features floats at the top and weights at the bottom. Once the fish are enclosed, the net is drawn shut at the bottom using ropes, capturing the catch within.

3. Fixed Net Fishing

Fixed net fishing employs stationary nets positioned in the water to entrap fish as they swim into them. These nets have various configurations, including wall-like structures in bay streams or estuaries, pocket-shaped nets, and intricate maze-like setups. Fish become trapped in the nets as they attempt to navigate through them, ultimately leading to their capture.

The evolution of fishing techniques from traditional methods to modern mechanized approaches has transformed the seafood industry.

While traditional techniques endure, mechanization has enabled fishermen to harvest seafood more efficiently and on a larger scale than ever before. By understanding and employing various fishing methods, fishermen can sustainably harvest seafood while preserving marine ecosystems for future generations.