Drift Net Fishing: An Overview
Drift net fishing is a fishing technique where nets, called drift nets, hang vertically in the water without being anchored to the bottom. The nets are kept vertical by floats attached to a rope along the top of the net and weights attached to another rope along the bottom of the net. The nets drift with the current, hence the name. They are usually used to catch schools of pelagic fish such as salmon, tuna, and squid.While drift net fishing can be an effective method for catching fish, it has been criticized for its environmental impact. One of the main concerns is bycatch, where non-target species such as dolphins, sea turtles, and seabirds get entangled in the nets and drown. Additionally, lost or abandoned drift nets, known as ghost nets, can continue to catch marine life for years.
Due to these environmental concerns, the use of large-scale drift nets has been banned by the United Nations in international waters. However, some small-scale drift net fishing still occurs in coastal waters under regulated conditions.
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