Aquaculture II: Fishing Gear & Crafts – SS3 Agricultural Science Lesson Note (First Term)

Fishing gear is the set of instruments used to harvest fish, and fishing crafts are the vessels used to carry out fishing on water.

Behavioural objectives

1. Define fishing gear and fishing crafts.
2. Describe the types of fishing gear and state their uses.
3. List the types of fishing crafts.
4. Name the materials and processes used in constructing and mending fishing gear.
5. Describe the post-harvest processes for fish and list the tools used in processing fish.

What is fishing gear?

Fishing gear is the set of instruments used in harvesting fish.

• Examples: hooks and lines, nets, spears, baskets and traps.
• Use: each type catches fish in a different way.

What are the types of fishing gear and their uses?

The common types of fishing gear are hook and line, spears, impaling tools, scoop nets, baskets, gill nets, cast nets, drag nets, traps and the trawler.

1. Hook and line: the hook carries natural or artificial bait, and the fish is caught when it swallows the bait.
2. Spears: used to kill struggling fish before they are dragged into the boat, so that they do not escape.
3. Scoop net: used to scoop up fish, usually small ones, from the water.
4. Fishing baskets: used to catch fish in small water bodies such as ponds after the water level has been reduced.
5. Impaling tools: spears, machetes and other objects used to attack fish directly.
6. Gill net: holds bigger fish by the gills while smaller ones pass through the mesh. It is used to harvest big fish.
7. Cast net: opens out when thrown over the water, then sinks and closes its mouth, trapping the fish beneath it. It catches selected fish by surrounding them.
8. Drag net (draw net or seine net): collects all the fish in a pond or water body at once. Its mesh is smaller than that of a gill net.
9. Trap: catches fish by letting them swim into it.
10. Fishing trawler: a large boat that tows trawl nets. It is used to harvest large fish in the deep sea or ocean for commercial purposes.

How can fishing gear be grouped by the way it catches fish?

Fishing gear can be grouped by the method of capture, as the table shows.

What are fishing crafts?

Fishing crafts are the boats and vessels used to carry fishermen and gear on water to catch fish.

There are nine types of fishing craft:

1. Dugout canoe: carved out of a tree trunk and powered by paddles.
2. Dinghy boat: made of artificial material such as fibreglass and fitted with an outboard engine for wider range and better performance.
3. Wooden (flat-bottomed) canoe: made of planks joined together on a wooden frame. It is common among small-scale artisanal fishermen, like the dugout canoe.
4. Motorised canoe: driven by an engine, so it travels faster than a paddled canoe.
5. Shoe dhoni: shaped like a shoe and used for fishing with nets.
6. Catamaran: a simple but efficient craft made by tying many logs together in the shape of a canoe.
7. Masula boat: made from mango planks. It is also called a bar boat.
8. Raft: a traditional craft made from different materials.
9. Trawler: a commercial vessel for large-scale fishing.

How is fishing gear constructed and mended?

Constructing fishing gear needs expertise, but fishermen can carry out certain repairs themselves.

What materials are used for making fishing gear?

Fishing gear materials are of two origins: textile and non-textile.

What are the processes involved in gear construction?

Gear construction has three processes: shaping, hanging and assembly of netting.

1. Shaping of netting: each netting panel is cut from geometric shapes such as rectangles, with uniform mesh size and twine specifications.
2. Hanging: the actual shape of the netting panel is fixed by hanging it onto a rope frame.
3. Assembly of netting: the cut panels are put together by joining or seaming.

How is fishing gear mended?

Mending fishing gear means repairing damaged parts so that the gear keeps catching fish effectively.

• Value: mending a net is a cost-cutting skill for fishermen.
• Torn nets: repairs and stitches are made on the torn portions.
• Hooks: lost hooks are replaced.
• Twines: weak twines are replaced with stronger ones.
• Badly damaged gear: it is often replaced with new gear.
• Method: the approach depends on the type of gear.

What are post-harvest processes in fish handling?

Post-harvest fish processing is the work done on fish between harvest and delivery of the final product to the consumer.

• Prevents spoilage: it stops the fish from deteriorating.
• Prolongs shelf life: processed fish stays fit for use for longer.
• Keeps quality: it retains the flesh quality and nutritional value.

What are the post-harvest processes?

The main post-harvest processes are de-gilling, de-gutting, de-scaling, de-capitation and washing.

1. De-gilling: removal of the gills of the fish.
2. De-gutting: removal of the inner organs, especially the intestine. The materials removed are called offal.
3. De-scaling: removal of the scales with a knife or cutlass.
4. De-capitation: removal of the head of the fish.
5. Washing: washing the fish properly with clean water in a basin.

How is processed fish preserved?

Processed fish is preserved by smoking, drying, freezing or salting.

• Smoking: fish is dried and flavoured over fire in a smoking kiln.
• Drying: water is removed from the fish, often in the sun.
• Freezing: fish is kept cold in a freezer.
• Salting: salt is applied to the fish to slow spoilage.

What tools are used in processing fish?

Fish processing uses cutting tools, cleaning materials, containers and storage equipment.

• Cutting tools: knives, cutlass, machete and cutting slabs.
• Work surfaces: tables.
• Cleaning materials: water, sponge and soap or detergent.
• Protective wear: hand gloves and processing aprons.
• Containers: basin, basket and containers for storage.
• Measuring: weighing scale.
• Preservation equipment: freezer and smoking kiln.

Evaluation

1. Define fishing gear and fishing crafts.
2. Describe how a gill net and a cast net catch fish.
3. List four types of fishing crafts.
4. Name three materials of textile origin and three of non-textile origin used for fishing gear.
5. List the post-harvest processes carried out on fish after harvest.

Assignment

Make a table of any four types of fishing gear. Give the use of each type and one tool used in processing the fish caught.