Can You Use A Gill Net In A River: Exploring Fishing Techniques

Determining the optimal location for deploying a gill net is essential for successful fishing. To achieve this, there are various methods to set up a gill net depending on your specific fishing goals. However, one of the simplest and most effective approaches is to secure the net between two strategic points in a body of water, be it a river or a rocky section of the sea. When placing the net in a river, it’s important to position it perpendicular to the current flow. This placement allows fish to naturally follow the current and become entangled in the net as they swim downstream, increasing your chances of a successful catch. In the case of rocky sea sections, gill nets can be anchored to the underwater features that serve as natural funnels, guiding fish into the waiting net. These strategic placements capitalize on the natural behavior of fish, making it easier to trap them effectively.

Have you ever wondered about the distinction between seine nets and gillnets used in fishing? Let’s delve into this topic to gain a clearer understanding. Seine nets are typically deployed from boats known as seiners, and there are two primary types of seine nets: purse seines and Danish seines. The key distinction between a seine and a gillnet lies in their respective mechanisms. When using a seine net, fish are enclosed within the net, essentially creating a barrier around them. Conversely, a gillnet directly captures fish by entangling them in the mesh, without fully enclosing them. This fundamental difference in how these fishing tools operate has significant implications for their effectiveness and impact on marine ecosystems.

Gill nets have significant disadvantages, particularly in their impact on various marine species, such as turtles, marine mammals, sharks, and seabirds. These nets are known to cause substantial bycatch, which refers to the unintentional capture of non-target species. Among these, turtles are especially vulnerable, with gillnets being identified as a primary threat to their survival. Additionally, the problem of lost or abandoned gillnets further exacerbates the issue, as these “ghost nets” continue to ensnare and harm marine life even after they are no longer actively used.