DRIFTING GILLNET

Kept near the surface, or a certain distance below it, by numerous floats, the net drifts freely with the current, separately or, more often with the boat to which they an attached. A driftnet may be used close to the bottom (e.g. shrimp driftnet) or at the surface (e.g. herring driftnet) usually across the path of migrating fish schools. Aquatic animals strike the net and become entangled in its meshes. Large Scale Pelagic Driftnets are surface or sub-surface drifnets of large dimensions (exceeding 2.5 km and up to 50 kms) the use of which is banned by a UN resolution. Also referred to as driftnets. ( Nedelec and Prado, 1990).