Gear Size | Selective device | Seafish Fishing Gear Database

Gear Size

Summary

By simply reducing the physical size of the whole gear or just part of the gear, it is sometimes possible to reduce unwanted by-catch and be able to handle the gear more efficiently. In some cases the gear has evolved over many years but but having a fresh look at the actual size of the gear and seeing if you can reduce the gear size you may be able to make the whole operation more efficient.

A purse seine net on harbourside next to a car
A purse seine net ready to be taken onboard a vessel. It's alongside a small car to show the scale of the gear

Size selectivity

By restricting the size of the gear or amount of gear used can be an easy way of limiting fishing capacity on any particular stock. It should be able to be easily managed as well. Things such as trawl or purse seine dimensions, pots and trap fisheries can be limited to a certain number and/or possibly size of traps used to help prevent the stocks being over fished and minimise by-catch. It can be more environmentally friendly to reduce the amount of gear used but ensure that all the gear is fishing to its optimum.

Other information

By restricting the size of the gear or amount of gear used can be an easy way of limiting fishing capacity on any particular stock. It should be able to be easily managed as well. Things such as trawl or purse seine dimensions, pots and trap fisheries can be limited to a certain number and/or possibly size of traps used to help prevent the stocks being over fished.

Selection type

  • Pre-selection