Tråla

Tråla is the Swedish and Norwegian term for the practice of trawling, and can also refer to the trawl net used in this method. The term is common in maritime and fisheries contexts in Nordic countries.

Trawling involves towing a large net behind a fishing vessel. It can be conducted in two main forms: bottom trawling, where the net is dragged along or near the seabed to catch demersal species; and pelagic trawling, where the net operates in the water column to catch mid- and surface-dwelling species. The gear typically includes a trawl net attached to doors or boards that spread the net, a headline and footrope, a codend, and sometimes bycatch reduction devices. The process often requires powerful propulsion and a crew to manage gear, navigation, and sorting of the catch.

Bottom trawling can disturb seabed habitats and cause habitat alteration, while pelagic trawling mainly impacts mid-water communities. Bycatch of non-target species and juvenile fish is a concern in many fisheries. Regulatory measures, such as quotas, area closures, gear restrictions, and vessel monitoring, aim to mitigate ecological effects and ensure sustainable harvests. In Nordic and wider European contexts, trawling is subject to environmental assessments and fisheries management policies.

See also: trawl, fisheries management.