Vistuigtype

Vistuigtype is a Dutch term used to describe the type of fishing gear and equipment a fishing operation uses to catch fish and other aquatic resources. The word combines vistuig (fishing gear) with type, reflecting its role as a category within a gear classification system. In the Netherlands and in Dutch-language fisheries documentation, vistuigtype is commonly used by fishermen, regulators, and researchers to distinguish methods based on environmental impact, selectivity, and regulatory requirements.

Classification and scope

Vistuigtypes are typically organized into broad categories that reflect the principal gear families in commercial fishing. Common examples include nets (such as trawl nets, seine nets, and gillnets), line gear (longlines, handlines, and trolling lines), traps and pots (creels and traps used for various species), and dredges or other bottom-contact devices used in shellfisheries. Other gear types may include harpoons or spears in jurisdictions where they are permitted. The exact categories and subtypes can vary by country, stock, and regulatory framework.

Regulation and data use

Authorities often assign licenses, quotas, and reporting obligations by vistuigtype. Gear restrictions influence catch efficiency, target species, bycatch risk, habitat impact, and discard rates. Accurate reporting of vistuigtype supports stock assessments, compliance monitoring, and gear-based management measures, including efforts to improve selectivity and reduce environmental effects.

See also

Fisheries management, Gear selectivity, Bycatch, License allocation.