Fishing Methods:

Otter Trawling

Otter trawls are cone-shaped nets which are towed along the ocean bottom to catch many species of groundfish. They take their name from the rectangular "doors" or "otterboards" that are attached to cables between the boat and the net. These doors serve to keep the mouth of the net horizontally open while the net is making its tow. A vertical opening is maintained by weights on the bottom and floats on the top and the water pressure generated from towing. The net traps fish in the end of the bag-like section or "cod-end", which has a mesh size that permits only the smaller fish to escape. The net rolls along close to the bottom with the aid of bobbins, which are similar in appearance to wheels. After a period of towing, the trawl is winched up beside the vessel. In a side trawling operation the cod-end is raised and suspended over the vessel. The cod-end is untied, and the catch released onto the vessel's decks, where the fish are bled, gutted and stored in the hold. In a stern trawling operation the gear is hauled up the "stern ramp" and the cod-end opened.

 

Longlining

Longlining, as the name implies, involves the use of a 'long line' with a series of baited hooks spread along the ocean floor. Initially retrieved manually, this system has now become mechanized and uses automatic hauling, baiting and shooting machines. These improvements have made longlining an increasingly popular form of fishing. Fishermen are able to fish more gear, and in many other ways can compete with other forms of fishing. They can be more selective, landing a higher quality of fish, and also require less fuel for the operation. Longlining is used primarily in the Atlantic provinces to catch groundfish such as cod, hake, haddock and halibut.

 

Lobster Traps

Lobster are caught by inshore fishermen using traps (or pots) set on the ocean floor, either individually or in groups on a line. The size and design of these traps differ somewhat in various localities. Traditional traps are made of curved pieces of wood, wood laths, and nylon twine. Newer traps are more rectangular and some are made of heavy wire mesh. Every trap has one or more funnel-shape openings fashioned from twine, which allow the lobster to enter the trap but prevent it from escaping.Traps are also fitted with circular or rectangular escape mechanisms designed to allow small lobster to escape. They are baited with either fresh or salted fish, commonly herring, mackerel or gaspereau.Traps are set in waters of varying depths, but usually near a rocky bottom, which lobsters prefer. Traps are ballasted with flat stones or concrete slabs to sink them and reduce their movement on the ocean floor. Marked buoys allow the gear to be easily located and identified.

Danish/Scottish Seining

anish/Scottish seining methods are used to catch species of groundfish such as flounder and cod. Both methods use similar nets and series of ropes spread out in a pear-shaped form along the ocean floor. The action of the ropes stirs up a mud cloud and herds the fish into the path of the net. In Danish seining, the vessel remains in a fixed position while the gear is hauled along the bottom. In Scottish seining, the net and ropes are towed along the ocean floor while they are closing. The is sometimes referred to as "fly-dragging".

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