driftnetten

Driftnetting is a fishing method that uses a long wall of netting, called a drift net, deployed into the water. These nets are designed to drift with the currents, entangling any fish that swim into them. Drift nets can be made from various materials, including monofilament or multifilament synthetic fibers, and can range in length from a few meters to several kilometers. They are typically set at the surface or at a specific depth.

Historically, driftnetting has been employed by many fishing fleets worldwide for a variety of commercial fish species. However, the method has drawn significant criticism due to its indiscriminate nature and the substantial bycatch it can generate. Bycatch refers to non-target organisms that are accidentally caught in fishing gear. In driftnetting, this can include marine mammals such as dolphins and whales, seabirds, sea turtles, and non-target fish species.

Concerns over the ecological impact of large-scale driftnetting led to international regulations and bans. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the United Nations passed resolutions calling for moratoria on large-scale high seas driftnet fishing. Many countries have since implemented their own restrictions or complete bans on the practice. While regulated and smaller-scale driftnetting may still occur in certain regions, the use of large-scale driftnets on the high seas is largely prohibited.