jobdiv.com Gillnetters use vertical panels of netting that trap fish by their gills, making them effective in targeting specific species and sizes, which reduces bycatch. Purse seiners encircle entire schools of fish with a large wall of netting that is drawn closed like a purse, allowing for the capture of large quantities at once. Choosing between gillnetters and purse seiners depends on fishing goals, with gillnetters offering selective harvesting and purse seiners providing high-volume catches.
Table of Comparison
| Aspect | Gillnetter | Purse Seiner |
|---|---|---|
| Fishing Method | Drifts or sets gillnets that entangle fish by gills. | Encircles fish with a large net, then tightens it like a purse. |
| Target Species | Salmon, herring, cod, and other mid-size fish. | Tuna, sardines, mackerel, anchovies, and schooling fish. |
| Gear Size | Smaller nets, typically up to 500 meters. | Large nets, up to several kilometers in circumference. |
| Fishing Depth | Mid-water or near bottom, depending on species. | Surface or near surface targeting schooling fish. |
| Bycatch Levels | Moderate to high; can entangle non-target species. | Lower; selective for schooling fish but may capture non-target species. |
| Environmental Impact | Potential damage to benthic habitats with net dragging. | Less habitat damage; potential overfishing risk. |
| Operational Range | Coastal and nearshore waters. | Coastal to offshore, depending on fish schools. |
Introduction to Gillnetter and Purse Seiner Vessels
Gillnetter vessels use vertical panels of netting that entangle fish by their gills, typically targeting species like salmon and herring in coastal waters. Purse seiner vessels deploy large, circular nets that encircle entire schools of fish such as tuna and sardines, then close the net's bottom to trap them efficiently. Both vessel types are essential in commercial fishing, with gillnetters offering selective catch methods and purse seiners enabling large-volume harvests.
Key Differences in Fishing Methods
Gillnetters use vertical panels of netting that entangle fish by their gills, targeting specific species based on mesh size and depth, making them selective but potentially causing bycatch. Purse seiners deploy large encircling nets that close like a drawstring purse, capturing entire schools of pelagic species such as tuna or sardines with high efficiency but less selectivity. The key difference lies in gillnetters relying on passive entanglement while purse seiners employ active encirclement, impacting species targeted, catch volume, and ecosystem effects.
Gear and Equipment Comparison
Gillnetters utilize vertical nets that hang in the water column to entangle fish by their gills, featuring mesh sizes tailored to specific target species and depths. Purse seiners deploy large, encircling nets with a weighted bottom and floating top line, designed to enclose entire schools of fish before the net's bottom is drawn closed like a purse. The gear on purse seiners often includes powerful winches and hydraulic purse line haulers for rapid and efficient net retrieval, contrasting with the simpler net handling equipment found on gillnetters.
Target Species and Yield
Gillnetters primarily target species such as salmon, herring, and cod, using stationary nets that entangle fish by their gills, resulting in moderate-yield catches with selective species targeting. Purse seiners focus on schooling pelagic fish like tuna, mackerel, and sardines, employing large nets that encircle and trap entire schools, achieving higher yield volumes due to efficient mass capture techniques. Yield efficiency varies as gillnetters offer species-specific selectivity and lower bycatch, while purse seiners maximize catch quantity but may encounter higher bycatch risks.
Crew Roles and Responsibilities
Gillnetter crews primarily focus on setting and retrieving gillnets, requiring roles specialized in net handling, maintenance, and monitoring fish entanglement, with deckhands and net tenders playing crucial roles. Purse seiner crews emphasize coordinating the deployment and hauling of large purse seine nets, necessitating operators skilled in net deployment, skiff piloting, and fish crowding techniques, often including a skipper, deckhands, and a skiff driver to manage the encirclement and capture process efficiently. Both fishing methods demand teamwork, but purse seining typically involves more complex coordination and mechanized equipment operation than gillnetting.
Efficiency and Productivity
Gillnetters utilize stationary nets that efficiently target specific fish species with minimal bycatch, optimizing resource use in coastal fisheries. Purse seiners employ large, encircling nets designed for high-volume captures of schooling fish, significantly increasing overall productivity in open waters. The choice between these methods depends on the species targeted and fishing environment, affecting catch volume and operational efficiency.
Environmental Impact and Bycatch
Gillnetters often cause higher bycatch rates due to their passive, entangling design, capturing unintended species such as marine mammals, turtles, and seabirds. Purse seiners, utilizing encircling nets to target schooling fish like tuna, generally result in lower bycatch but can still impact non-target species, especially juvenile fish and sharks. Both methods pose environmental challenges, but purse seining is considered more selective, reducing habitat damage compared to the stationary nature of gillnets.
Economic Factors and Profitability
Gillnetters typically incur lower operational costs due to simpler gear and lower fuel consumption, making them more profitable for small-scale fisheries targeting specific species. Purse seiners demand higher initial investment and maintenance expenses but offer greater catch volumes and efficiency, resulting in higher revenue potential for large-scale commercial operations. Economic profitability hinges on fish market prices, vessel size, and fishing grounds, with purse seiners dominating in economies of scale while gillnetters thrive in niche markets.
Regulatory Considerations
Gillnetters and purse seiners are subject to distinct regulatory frameworks designed to prevent overfishing and protect marine biodiversity. Gillnetters face strict mesh size regulations and area closures to reduce bycatch of protected species, while purse seiners are often regulated through vessel size limits, seasonal fishing bans, and mandated use of fish-aggregating devices to minimize impacts on non-target fish populations. Compliance with these regulations ensures sustainable fishing practices and supports the conservation goals established by international fisheries management organizations.
Choosing the Right Vessel for the Job
Gillnetters specialize in using vertical panels of netting to trap fish by their gills, making them ideal for targeting specific species in coastal or shallow waters. Purse seiners deploy large walls of netting to encircle entire schools of fish, efficiently capturing pelagic species like tuna or sardines in open waters. Selecting the right vessel depends on the target species, fishing environment, and gear efficiency, with gillnetters excelling in selective, low-impact fishing and purse seiners offering high-volume harvests in pelagic zones.
Gillnetter vs Purse Seiner Infographic
