What is drift-net fishing? What is the harm of drift-net fishing for ecology?

Drift fishing is the catching of fish with the help of a fishing vessel, which is called a drifter. As some fish species (in particular herring, mackerel and salmon) live mainly in the sea space (the so-called pelagic), they try to keep separate from each other. For this reason, they can be caught only by means of special smooth networks, which are called drift-nets (or drifting ones), since only they are capable of delaying the movement of the above-mentioned rocks.

How does it work?

Fish when trying to go through such a network are not able to feel the barrier, which is a mesh fabric, as a result of which they pull the cells down to the fins themselves. And this, in turn, leads to the fact that the fish is not able to continue further movement. When she begins to try to take off the network cells from her, then this, of course, she can not, because they do not give the gills.

What is a drift-net (drifting) network?

The drift-net (drifting) network is an interlacing of an aluminum wire of rectangular shape. Its length can reach thirty-nine and a half meters, and the height is nineteen and a half meters. Several drifting networks, interconnected, form the so-called drift-net order. To maintain it, special buoys and floats are provided, which are attached to the top selection of the network and with the help of the weights drop to a certain depth. They are installed to the bottom of the network.

The length of a drift-net order may be more than fifty nautical miles. It depends on where the fishing takes place and what catch I would like to receive.

History of drift-net fishing

Humanity learned long ago what a drift-net fishing is. A special peak of this method of catching, which incidentally is illegal in some countries, came at the end of the nineteenth century. And mainly herring was harvested. Although there are cases when, using such a method as drift-net fishing, even squid harvesting was performed. But they are very rare, almost single. Often it is used for catching certain fish species.

The following fact is very interesting: at the end of the nineteenth century, by the authorities of one of the United States of America, drift-net fishing was first outlawed for the first time, it was indicated that only standard fishing nets should be left. But in connection with the transformation of the state into just one of the territories, this could not be done. Such a state of affairs could not but please fans of such fishing.

How is the situation with drift-net fishing in different countries?

In the vast majority of European countries spawns salmon. But in Canada, drift-net fishing is much better developed, because this breed of fish in the country multiplies in almost all rivers. And there are at least five hundred of them there.

In the North Atlantic, such places are all the western and southern coast of Greenland.

Concerning the Japanese drift-net fishing, we can say that it has almost come to naught, because there is practically nothing to catch there anyway. If the salmon spawns in the waters of this country, then in very small quantities.

But the greatest damage to drift-net fishing was caused by the Atlantic salmon population. So, for example, in the Czech Republic this type of fish now lives in only two rivers. These are the Vistula and the Oder. And in Norway, and at all in one. This once again proves that drift-net fishing is a great danger to the environment.

Is there a way out of the situation?

Many people thought about this question. What is drift-net fishing - has long been understood in the North Atlantic Salmon Fund. It was created by the famous public figure Orri Vigfusson. In his opinion, drift-net fishing can lead to nothing good. So he came up with his scheme. He decided to start redeeming the national quotas for salmon fishing from those countries in which drift-net fishing is permitted by law. And this scheme proved to be quite effective: during salmon spawning, salmon are not caught, and consequently, can safely reach the desired place and give offspring there.

But such activities are quite costly: fishermen have to pay tidy sums, which are taken from the donations of those legal and natural persons whose interests are upheld by this organization.

The Convention

However, the above-mentioned North Atlantic Salmon Fund is by no means the first organization to understand what drift-net fishing is and what danger it poses to the environment. The problem arose long before the founding of this organization and is connected with the adoption of the so-called Taravian Declaration by the heads of government of those countries that are members of the Convention on the prohibition of the implementation of fishing activities with the help of drift-nets, as well as the Pacific Forum.

According to this document, the implementation of fishing activities with the help of drift-nets is regarded as "incompatible with the requirements of international law". This concerns directly the responsibilities for the conservation of natural and, in particular, fish resources on the high seas, as well as the possibility of managing them.

What kind of harm is caused by drift-nets to the environment?

For the entire world ecological community, the danger of carrying out fishing activities with the help of drift-nets is one of the main problems today. Moreover, it is even produced for research purposes. The whole trouble is that even with small volumes of fish catch in this way, the damage to the environment is simply enormous.

Currently, it is planned to introduce the following restrictions on the practice of catching fish using drift-nets (of course, only in countries where this method is not yet completely prohibited by law):

• Reduce the number of drift-nder orders;
• Reduce the number of drifters that can simultaneously engage in fishing.

In this regard, it is planned to adopt a special resolution of the United Nations, as well as strict measures to limit the number of drift-net orders in the South Pacific. Experts are sure that such a measure will help minimize the damage that is caused to the environment in this way of fishing.

All lovers of fishing need to know what drift-net fishing is and what is its special feature. This will help to avoid many unpleasant situations and rid yourself of unnecessary problems.