Seiners

Seiners are fishermen or fishing vessels that use seine nets to capture fish by encircling them with a net and then drawing the opening closed to trap the catch. The term covers both the people and boats involved in seining as well as the gear they use.

The major types of seines include purse seines, Danish or ring seines, and coastal or beach seines. A purse seine deploys a large wall of netting around a school of pelagic fish and then tightens the bottom, or purse line, to close the net and seal the catch inside. This method is widely used for species such as tuna, sardines, herring, and mackerel, often with sizable vessels and powered winches. Danish or ring seines use a long, continuous net and involve maneuvering to enclose fish, after which the opening is drawn tighter to capture them. Beach or coastal seines are lighter, shore-based nets used to catch nearshore species from beaches or small boats.

Operation generally begins with locating a school of fish, followed by deploying the net around the school, surrounding it, and then closing the opening to trap the fish. The net is hauled aboard, the catch is processed or stored, and releases or bycatch are managed according to local regulations.

Seining has a long geographic and historical presence and remains significant in many regions. It also raises environmental concerns, including bycatch and habitat impact. Management measures—such as gear restrictions, area and seasonal closures, bycatch limits, and gear modifications—are commonly employed to address these issues.