Danish Seining Flashcards
What is seining?
A method of fishing that uses s seine or dragnet
Describe a seine
Is a net that hands vertically in the water with its bottom edge held down by weights and its top edge buoyed by floats
How can seines be deployed?
From shore as a beach seine
From a boat
When was the Danish seine first used?
Since 1848, first used to catch plaice
How does a Danish seine work?
Ropes keep the net open and herd the fish towards the net
What fish are caught using beach seining?
-Sardines
-Mackerel
-Sea bream
-Flat fish
How is a beach seine deployed?
Using a single boat, hauled in by hand
What are the disadvantages of Danish seining?
-Requires relatively smooth seabed
-Relatively calm weather and low current speeds
-Difficult to use during the night or in fog
-Workload of fishers is higher
-Demands better navigational skills
Why is Danish seining falling out of fashion?
-Current trends towards targeting of bottom fish in deeper water
-Number of vessels using this type of fishing has declined
What are the advantages of Danish seines?
-Low power and fuel consumption
-Cheaper and less bulky than a trawl, can be used on smaller boats
-Tows are efficient at herding fish into codend
-If good navigational knowledge is there, seine can be used very effectively
-Less damaging to sea bed
-Better quality end product as fish spend less time in the net
What is the minimum mesh size for Danish seines?
135 - 150 mm depending on fishing areas
What fish are caught using Danish seines?
-Flatfish like plaice, dab, long rough dab, witch flounder and mergrim
-Cod and haddock in certain waters
What are vessels that seine called?
Seiners
Vessels display a flashing amber light when actively fishing
What does Danish seining require to be successful?
What does Danish seining require to be successful?
What does Danish seining require to be successful?
-Skill operation is extensive knowledge is required
-Locating the fishing grounds
-Accurate rigging of the gear
-Consideration of tidal streams with relation to the gear
How does Danish seining work?
-Gear is towed until both ropes are under strain, then winch is engaged
-Winch speed is gradually increased from 15 m/minute to 90m/minute, when around half of ropes are in and the gear has closed up
-Vessels maintains its position or is getting hauled astern by the net
What is the sets of deploying a Danish seine net?
- Vessel shoots dhan and begins shooting ropes
- One set of ropes shot 2,000 - 3,500 m long
- Seine net shot
- Other set of ropes shot 2,000 -3,500 m long
- Circle closes and vessel picks up dhan and starts to tow both ropes and net
Describe the Danish seine net
-Poor man’s trawl
-Resembles a trawl with wings, belly and codend
-Operated differently, no otter doors
-Operated with a set of warps (towing lines, drag lines)
Describe physical structure of Danish seine net
-A central bag with lateral wings
-Extends 25 -30cm on either side
-Footrope / ground-gear weights and headrope floats
What happens during towing?
Warps are gradually pulled together, herding the fish in front of the seine
