FISHING

VESSELS
BY V. VEDA SRI AMRUTHA
Introduction to Fishing Vessels
Fishing vessels are specialized watercraft used to
catch fish and other seafood from oceans, rivers, and
lakes. They come in various sizes and types,
depending on the fishing operation and location.
From small boats used by artisanal fishermen to large
industrial trawlers operating on the high seas, fishing
vessels form the backbone of the global seafood
industry.
The significance of fishing vessels extends beyond
food production. They contribute to employment,
trade, and the culture of many coastal communities
worldwide. Understanding the types, design,
equipment, and operations of fishing vessels is
crucial for ensuring sustainability, safety, and
efficiency in the fishing industry.
A fishing vessel is a maritime vessel
designed and equipped for the primary purpose of
catching fish and other aquatic life. These vessels are
a vital component of the world’s fishing industry,
which provides a significant portion of the global
population’s seafood and supports coastal
communities worldwide.
Fishing vessels come in a diverse array of sizes and
configurations, from small, traditional fishing boats to
large, modern trawlers and factory ships. They are
typically equipped with various fishing gear, including
nets, lines, traps, and sometimes even advanced
technology like sonar and satellite navigation systems
to locate and catch fish effectively.

Types of Fishing Vessels

Fishing vessels are categorized based
on the fishing method and area of operation:
1. Trawlers: These use trawl nets to catch fish,
dragging them through the water or along the
seabed.
2. Purse Seiners: Utilize a large wall of netting to
encircle schools of fish. The bottom of the net is
then drawn together to trap them.
3. Longliners: Employ long lines with baited hooks,
effective for catching large species like tuna and
swordfish.
4. Gillnetters: Use nets that fish get entangled in by
their gills.
5. Dredgers: Designed to scrape or dig the sea floor
for shellfish like scallops.
6. Seine Netters: Use surrounding and hauling nets
to catch fish near the surface.
 7. Handliners and Pole-and-Line Vessels:
Typically small boats that use lines with baited
hooks.

History Of Fishing Vessels

Before the standardisation in the 1950s, the design of fishing
vessels varied from region to region. Traditional vessels were made of
wood, but due to their high maintenance cost and shorter life, they
became obsolete, and other safer and more durable materials are
now used for building fishing vessels.
Rafts and dugout canoes are regarded as the oldest fishing vessels.
They were made from tree bark, tree logs, and stones. The oldest
fishing boat belongs to the Neolithic Period (about 7000 to 9000 years
ago), as revealed in the excavation at Kuwait. These vessels had less
durability and were not employed for long-distance travel.
After these simpler boats, around 4000 B.C., the Egyptians developed
the first multi-oarsmen long and narrow vessels. They carried out
further advancements to achieve much faster, larger, and suitable
long-distance travel vessels. Simultaneously, some other
civilisations also started developing innovative vessels for fishing and
trade purposes.
In the 15th century, the Dutch developed a drifter that became a
blueprint for the later European fishing boats. It was a bus-like ship
about 20m long used for fishing. In the 17th century, the British
developed a dogger. Doggers were a little smaller than herring buses
but could carry tonnes of fish at a time.
The trawler, the modern fishing vessel, was developed in the
19th century at Brixham harbour. It was developed by modifying the
dogger developed in the 17th century; their innovation was entitled
Brixham, titled ‘Mother of Deep-Sea Fisheries’. This was the first time
ocean fishing became possible, and the design became prevalent
worldwide. The development continued, and with time, the advent of
steam created a takeoff point for fishing vessels. The vessels that
followed sailed using steam power and had steel hulls. Further
development resulted in stern trawlers and electronically assisted
commercial fishing vessels we use today.

Design and Construction

Durable Materials
Modern fishing vessels are built from robust materials, such
as reinforced fiberglass, steel, and aluminum, to withstand
the harsh marine environment. These materials also
contribute to fuel efficiency by reducing the vessel’s overall
weight, helping minimize operational costs.

Efficient Storage Solutions

Fishing vessels require ample storage space to preserve the
freshness of the catch until it reaches shore. Advanced
refrigeration systems are essential for this purpose, as they
keep the fish in optimal condition throughout the voyage.
Additionally, processing areas onboard allow for initial
handling and packaging of the fish, increasing the vessel’s
productivity and capacity.

Eco-Friendly Considerations
Sustainable fishing practices are now a priority in vessel
design, especially given the need to prevent overfishing and
protect marine ecosystems. Many fishing vessels are
designed with a limited catch capacity and equipment that
avoids harm to specific marine species, promoting long-
term sustainability in the fishing industry.

Challenges and Future of Fishing Vessels

In assessing future challenges for the fisheries sector, FAO
(1999c) has identified a number of key issues that span the
entire sector, and which are of primary policy importance.
These challenges include:
• maintaining the contribution made by fisheries and
aquaculture to food security, employment, national
economic development, and recreation. Depending on
geography, access to markets and affordable
technology, the contribution of fish to food security
comes not only from fish produced for direct local food
consumption, but also from aquatic products of all
types which can be sold domestically or exported for
funds, as well as those which generate income through
recreation, tourism, and employment. Access to all
potential contributions is not automatic and specific
interventions are required to achieve full access;
• strengthening the base for fisheries management and
aquaculture development through improved data
collection and scientific assessment so that decisions
concerning management and development options
could be more rationally based and informed. This
requires a multifaceted approach in that (i) there is
consultation with data users so that they get the data
required for their work, (ii) there is appropriate data
 collection mechanisms and data management
systems, (iii) there is a national commitment to provide
data, and (iv) FAO and non-FAO regional fishery bodies
and other appropriate institutions and organizations
are involved in regional assessments concerning
trends in fisheries;
• improving governance and more effective conflict
resolution - as fishery resources become scarcer the
intensification of regional fishery conflicts should be
anticipated; promoting national capacity building and
the strengthening of regional institutions; developing
objective performance indicators relevant to
governance; encouraging coherent management
approaches and better collaboration among regional
institutions to address emerging issues of common
concern;
• facilitating greater transparency in fisheries sector
decision making at all levels through greater
stakeholder participation in national and regional
processes. Such transparency, which is now being
called for widely in many international fisheries
instruments, has the benefit of promoting greater
acceptance of decisions when stakeholders have been
consulted and involved;
• improving access to, and the dissemination of, good
quality and timely information in the most appropriate
formats, in support of responsible fisheries and
aquaculture, and trade;
 • reducing by-catch and discards through the use of
more selective gear and fishing operations, and
innovative and value-added processing and market
development for species currently discarded and
expanding and promoting uniform quality criteria for
internationally traded fish and fish products. In the
interests of food security and the best utilization of
limited resources, the prevention of post-harvest
losses should be pursued as a matter of high priority;
• promoting cooperation in fish trade with a view to
avoiding disputes and imposition of sanctions;
minimizing the impact on international fish trade on
those groups most vulnerable to food insecurity; and
• integrating coastal area planning and management
more effectively.

Future Of Fishing Vessels

The Fishing Industry alone employs 1.5 crore
people in the country. However, India’s share in fish
production is only 4.2%, whereas China’s share is
69%. To maintain the Indian fishing industry’s share in
global fish production at an adequate value, the
country’s fishing vessels must be upgraded and
equipped with better facilities.
Fishing vessels should be designed according to
standards and based on sustainable development.
They should be able to meet the nation’s local and
export demand.
Fishing vessels should be easily operable and have no
or negligible environmental impact. Fishing is a major
employment-generating industry; it should not go off-
shore without fishing vessels. Indian vessels still need
certain advancements in fishing vessel
manufacturing and development.