Driftnets, used in Turkish Seas and the regulations

Abstract

Driftnets are defined by FAO as a fishing gear "consisting of a string of gillnets kept more or less vertical by floats on the upper line and weights on the lower line, drifting with the current, in general near surface or in mid-water." Large scale drift nets for swordfish are still used illegally in the Mediterranean, though there are many of national-international regulations and bans on driftnets due to high ratio of by-catch, especially marine mammals, seabirds, sea turtles, etc. This study reports the technical characteristics and regulations (both national and international) of driftnets in Turkish waters. A total of 12 various type driftnets of which four from large scale and the others from small scale fisheries. The length of driftnets were ranged from 400 m to 6900 m.