Longline fishing is a widely used technique in commercial fishing that involves deploying a long line with baited hooks to catch fish. This method is commonly used in deep waters and is known to be very effective in catching a variety of fish species. While it is a popular fishing strategy, it is also controversial due to its potential environmental impact, including bycatch.
The types of fish caught using longline fishing can vary depending on the region, but it is commonly used to target pelagic species that inhabit deeper waters. These include tuna, swordfish, marlin, shark and certain species of mackerel.
Longline fishing involves a long line, generally several kilometers in length, which is anchored to the seabed and left for several hours. The line is dotted with numerous short lines, each of which has a baited hook attached. When a fish takes the bait, it’s hooked, and the fisherman reels it in. The line is then pulled back onto the boat and the fish is sorted.
One of the benefit of longline fishing is that it can catch large quantities of target species in a single setting. Additionally, using targeted bait can help reduce the number of non-target species caught. However, longline fishing does have its downsides, including potentially contributing to overfishing. The indiscriminate nature of longline fishing can also result in bycatch of non-targeted species, including endangered and threatened marine life.
Longline fishing is a commonly used commercial fishing method that can be effective in catching pelagic species like tuna, swordfish, and marlin. While it has a range of benefits, fisherman using this technique should consider the environmental impact and try to operate in a sustainable and responsible way to reduce bycatch and protect endangered species.