CLASSIFICATION OF FISHING GEARS
For the statistics on fishing units and marine capture production, broken down into types of fishing gear, the
classification of fishing gears should be used as follows:
Major Group
Minor Group
Standard Abbreviation
ISSCFG Code
1.Purse seine
 
PS
01.1.0
1.1 Anchovy purse seine
-
 -
1.2 Fish purse seine
-
 -
2.Seine Net
 
SX
02.9.0
  2.1 Boat seine
SV
02.2.0
  2.2 Beach seine
SB
02.1.0
3.Trawl TX 03.9.0
      
  3.1 Beam trawl
TBB
03.1.1
  3.2 Otter board trawl
OT
03.4.9
  3.3 Pair trawl
PT
03.5.9
4.Lift net
  
LN
 05.9.0
5.Gill net
 
GN
07.9.1
6.Trap
 
FIX
08.9.0
  6.1 Stationary trap
-
 -
  6.2 Portable trap
-
 -
7.Hook and lines
 
LX
 09.9.0
8.Push/Scoop net
 
-
-
9.Shellfish and seaweed collecting gear
  
-
-
10.Others
 
MIS
20.0.0
Types of Fishing Gears and Definitions
1. Purse seine
 
A net roughly rectangular in shape without a distinct bag is set vertically in water, to surround the school of fish with
purse line, generally of pelagic nature.
Actually, this group of fishing gear called ‘Surrounding Net’, which is sub-divided into three major groups, i.e.: a) one
boat purse seine; b) two-boat purse seine; and c) surrounding net without a purse line. However, in term of fishery
statistics, no countries in the region collect the data in such individual groups. Thus, purse seine is the only gear of
surrounding net which collect data without detail in one or two-boat operations. However, countries in the region
agreed to separately report production from: a) Anchovies purse seine; and b) Fish purse seine.
2. Seine net
 
A bag shaped net with two wings, normally; the wings are larger than those of trawls nets. The net is pulled towards
a stationary boat or onto a beach. A seine net of primitive nature sometimes does not have a bag. Insofar as the
net is pulled towards a stationary boat or beach, it is included herein. The seine net is sub-divided into two minor
groups: a) Boat seine; and b) Beach seine.
2.1 Boat seine
Boat seine consists of two wings, a body and a bag, which is similar to that of trawls. Operated from a boat, they are
generally used on the bottom, where they are hauled by two ropes, usually very long, set in the water so as to ensure
that as many fish as possible are driven or herded towards the opening of the net. Danish seine is also included herein.
2.2 Beach seine
Beach seine is a simple fishing gear; one end of the wing is held by a group of fishermen on the shore, the net is first
set at right angle to the seashore and the direction of the net setting turns gradually towards the shore. After setting
all the net, the towing line of the wing is laid out and the boat runs toward the shore providing a certain distance
between the landing and setting points. Then, from the two ends of the wings, the buoy line and the sinker line are
hauled to catch the fish.
3. Trawl
A conical bag shaped-net with two or more wings, pulled by one to two boats for a period of time, to catch mainly fish
or other aquatic animals that live directly on or stay near the sea bed. When such a gear is used in mid-water with the
same catching mechanism, the mid-water trawl is included under this group. The trawl is also sub-divided into three
minor groups: a) Beam trawl; b) Otter board trawl; and c) Pair trawl.
3.1 Beam trawl
The main feature of this trawl is a beam, mostly made of iron. Its purpose is to spread the netting. Sometimes a heavy
beam is supported by steel shoes at each end which run over the sea bed. A ground rope and a head rope are joined
together to the cement ski that works as a bobbin. The principle catch of beam trawl are shrimps, therefore the mesh
size is relatively small. The mesh size of beam trawl also depends on the target species.
3.2 Otter board trawl
Otter boards are used for horizontal spreading of the net mouth. Most otter trawl nets consist of two panels; this is
called a ‘two-seam net’. The mouth is oval-shaped when viewed from front. Two wings stretch out to increase the
swept area and to guide the fish in the net’s path down to the cod-end.
3.3 Pair trawl
Pair trawl means this net is towed by two boats. In pair trawling, the net mouth is kept open by outward towing of
the two boats, which always try to keep the same distance between them during operation. The otter boards are not
necessary, the arrangement of gear has been simplified, the wrap is connected directly to the sweep lines, the other
is joined to a triangular iron frame at the end of Gridles from each wing of the net.
4. Lift net
A sheet of net, usually square, but may sometimes be conical, is stretched by several rods, ropes, or a frame and is set
either at the bottom or in mid-water for some time and then lifted to trap the fish swimming above it. Both stationary
lift nets and portable lift nets are included herein.
5. Gill net
A net wall, with its lower end weighted by sinkers (or heavy net, as in drift gill net) and the upper end raise by floats, is
set across the path of migrating fish. Fish trying to make their way through the net wall are gilled or entangled in the
mesh. The trammel net with two to three wall nets is also included herein. The migrating fish are entangled between
two layers of nets and not in the mesh where a combination of different types of nets are used.
6. Trap
Trap referred to a gear that is set or stationed in the water for a certain period, regardless of the kind of materials used
of their construction. The fish are naturally confined in a collecting unit from which escape is prevented by labyrinthsand/or retarding devices such as gorges, funnels, etc. without any active fishing operation taking place. Trap is also
sub-divided into two minor groups: a) Stationary trap; and b) Portable trap.
6.1 Stationary trap
Considering its operation, this group of trap is stationed in the water for long period at least until the end of fishing season. Most of stationary gear is operated in relation to water current. Stationary trap covers bamboo stake trap, bamboo fence trap, set net, bag net, etc.
6.2 Portable trap
Trap is portable, designed in form of cages or basket. It can be made of various materials such as wood, bamboo, metal rods, wire netting, etc. It is used with or without bait depending on the target species. Fish trap, crab trap, shrimp trap are included herein.
7. Hook and lines
This gear generally consists of line(s) and hook(s) where natural or artificial baits are hooked to attract fish or other
aquatic animals. Unbaited hook or a jig may also be used.
8. Push/Scoop net
A bag net with a fixed or variable opening is operated in shallow waters or from boats. Some large-scale scoop nets
are operated from a motorized boat such as the boat push net.
9. Shellfish and seaweed collecting gear
 
All manual gears and complex devices which are used for collecting shellfish and seaweeds, regardless of the type
of materials used for their construction. While the manual gear are operated by an individual, some of the more
complex devices such as cockle dredge, clam dredge, etc. need a motor boat for their operation.
10. Others
 
This group of fishing gear covers the great variety of other fishing gears and methods which are not specified elsewhere, including cast net drive-in-net, muro ami, harpoon, etc.