Kiemennetze

Kiemennetze, also known as gillnets, are a type of fishing gear used to catch fish by entanglement. They consist of a single panel of netting, typically rectangular, with mesh of a specific size. This mesh size is chosen to allow the head of a target fish to pass through, but not its body. When the fish attempts to swim backward, its gills become snagged in the netting, preventing escape.

These nets are usually deployed vertically in the water column, with floats along the top edge and weights along the bottom to keep them taut. They can be set to drift with the current or anchored in place. Kiemennetze are used in a wide variety of marine and freshwater environments worldwide.

The effectiveness of kiemennetze lies in their passive nature; they do not require active herding or chasing of fish. However, their indiscriminate nature can lead to bycatch, where non-target species, including marine mammals, seabirds, and other fish, can become entangled. Regulations regarding mesh size, net length, and deployment areas are often in place to mitigate bycatch and ensure sustainable fishing practices. Different types of kiemennetze exist, varying in mesh construction, material, and deployment methods depending on the target species and local conditions.