Trawls

Description:
Trawls are a type of mobile fishing gear, in which large, funnel-shaped bags of nets are dragged horizontally through the water. Nets are actively dragged behind boats at various depths. Bottom-trawls are often dragged at or near the seafloor to catch ground fish (cod, flounder, rockfish) and shrimp. The larger bottom-trawl nets can be as large as 40-feet tall and 200-feet wide. Mid-water trawls utilize similar gear but, as their name suggests, are set in the water column or even at the surface. Mid-water trawls target squid, mackerel and other fish species found higher in the water column. A mid-water trawl consists of a cone shaped net that is usually much larger than a bottom trawl.

Bycatch Threat:
Mid-water trawls are considered a serious threat to the survival of marine mammals. Bottom-trawls are likely one of the greatest threats to sea turtles.

Target Species: 
Depends on the depth of trawl. Bottom-trawls target cod, flounder, rockfish and shrimp. Mid-water trawls target squid, mackerel, butterfish and other pelagic species.

Geographical Range:
Global

Bycatch Species:
Marine mammals and sea turltes.

• FAO Fishing Gear FactSheet: Trawls