Fishing

Fishing is the activity of hunting for fish. By extension, the term fishing is also applied to hunting for other aquatic animals such as various types of shellfish as well as squid, octopus, turtles, frogs and some edible marine invertebrates. The term fishing is not applied to the hunting of aquatic mammals such as whales. Fishing is an ancient and worldwide practice with many techniques and traditions, and it has been transformed by modern technological developments.

Modern fishing

Recreational fishing

Main article Angling

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Recreational fishing is fishing for pleasure or competion. Recreational fishing generally has conventions, rules of competion, licencing restrictions or laws that limit the way in which fish may be caught. Typically, these prohibit the use of nets and catching fish with hooks not in the mouth.

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Recreational fishing is generally done with a rod and line with a wide range of lures or bait, this is known as angling.

Related Topics:
Rod - Line - Lures - Bait - Angling

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Very often, it is expected or required that the fish are all returned to the water (catch and release). The practice is however disputed by some who consider that it is unethical to perform actions alleged to be painful to a fish for fun and not for the reason of food production. Fishermen refute this charge, pointing out that fish commonly feed on hard and spikey prey items, and as such can be expected to have tough mouths, and also that some fish will re-take a lure they have just been hooked on, a behaviour that is unlikely if being hooked was painful.

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A definitive science-based conclusion on the issue is unavailable. However, a variety of scientific studies have recorded very high survival rates (95 to 99+ percent) for caught and released fish.

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Critics of catch-and-release also fail to realise that catch-and-release will become more and more necessary to conserve fish stocks in the face of increasing populations, increasing fishing pressure and increasing habitat degradation. The alternative of banning or severely restricting angling is not reasonable or feasible.

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The sustainability of recreational fishing is an important issue. Unfortunately recreational fishermen can have potent effects on fish stocks, particularly with large, slow growing species. The only way for growing numbers of recreational fishermen to continue fishing however is for catch and release practices, in combination with techniques such as strong tackle (to get fish in quickly, for release in good condition) and barbless hooks (to reduce damage to fishes mouths), to become widely practiced.

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Sport fishing is a recent phenomenon of recreational fishing where fishermen compete for prizes based on the total weight of fish caught in a time limit. This sport evolved from local fishing contests into a large competition circuit in the U.S.A. where professional fishermen can compete and be supported by professional endorsements, and other large-scale tournaments around the world.

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Big-game fishing and is used when fishing from boats to catch large open-water species such as tuna and marlin.

Related Topics:
Big-game fishing - Tuna - Marlin

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Noodling and Trout tickling may be persued as a recreation.

Related Topics:
Noodling - Trout tickling

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Recreational fishing laws also include other aquatic species, such as frogs and turtles.

Related Topics:
Frog - Turtle

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Commercial fishing

Main article Fishing industry

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Commercial fishing provides a large quantity of food to many countries around the world, but those who pursue it as an industry must often pursue fish far into the ocean under bad conditions. Commercial fishermen harvest almost all aquatic species, from tuna, cod and salmon to shrimp, krill, lobster, clams, squid, crab. Commercial fishing methods have become very efficient using large nets and sea-borne processing factories. Many new restrictions are often integrated with varieties of fishing allocation schemes, and international treaties that have sought to limit the yearly fishing effort.

Related Topics:
Tuna - Cod - Salmon - Shrimp - Krill - Lobster - Clam - Squid - Crab - Sea

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Fishing methods vary according to the region, the species being fished for, and the technology available to the fishermen. A commercial fishing enterprise may vary from one man with a small boat with hand-casting nets or a few pot traps, to a huge fleet of trawlers processing tons of fish every day.

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Some common commercial techniques today are trawling, seining, driftnetting, handlining, longlining, gillnetting, and diving. Also see Krill fishery

Related Topics:
Trawling - Seining - Driftnetting - Handlining - Longlining - Gillnetting - Diving - Krill fishery

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