Modern Fishing Gear Technology

A diverse range of fishing gears and methods have been evolved to capture a wide range of species constituting the fisheries in different parts of the world. Significant developments have taken place in the fishing gear materials, design and fabrication and degree of sophistication in the operation and handling of fishing gears, in the last three decades. Advances in vessel technology, precision electronic navigation systems, high definition fish finders and sonar, gear monitoring systems and computerised control systems have increased the precision and efficiency of fishing. These developments while increasing the fish production have also brought to focus emerging issues such as the need for long term sustainability of fishery resources, fishery enhancement, protection of biodiversity, environmental safety and energy conservation in fish harvesting, which are being addressed in different parts of the fishery world with varying degrees of success. This publication brings together latest information in the field of commercial fishing technology and provides an overview of the important fishing gears, their design, fabrication and operation with focus on recent advances in responsible fishing. The format particularly focuses on the requirements of the graduate and post-graduate students of fisheries science and fishing gear technology.