Bottom trawling

Bottom trawling is a fishing method that drags a weighted net along the seafloor to catch organisms living on or near the bottom.

Trawl net: A fishing net towed through water to capture fish and other aquatic animals. Its mesh and shape enclose animals as the gear moves across the seabed.
Seafloor habitat: The physical and biological environment on or near the seabed. The effects of bottom trawling depend on the habitat the gear crosses.
Fisheries management: The regulation of fishing to sustain fish populations and manage ecological and economic effects. Rules govern where, when, and how bottom-trawl fisheries operate.
Midwater trawling: A fishing method that tows a net through the water column without dragging it along the seabed. It uses trawl gear but avoids the direct seabed contact that defines bottom trawling.
Trawling footprint: The area and intensity of seafloor affected by bottom-trawl fishing. Mapping this footprint helps estimate how much seabed is disturbed and where.
Trawl door: A hydrodynamic panel that spreads a trawl net’s mouth open while it is towed. Doors keep the net open and can disturb a broad strip of seafloor.
Benthic ecology: The study of organisms and ecological processes on and within the seabed. Repeated disturbance can change seabed communities and their ecological functions.
Demersal fish: Fish that live on or near the seabed. They are among the principal targets of bottom-trawl fisheries.
Longline fishing: A fishing method using a main line with many baited hooks attached. It can target bottom-dwelling fish without towing a net across the seafloor.
Benthic recovery: The return of seabed organisms and ecological functions after disturbance. Recovery rates determine whether trawled habitats can withstand repeated disturbance.

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