Commercial Fishing Methods, Scale, and Maritime Law Zones
Fishing Operations: Scale and Scope
1. Types of Fishing Operations
Inshore Fishing (Bajura)
This is done by small boats near the coast. Operations generally last several hours. The catch is usually sold in the local market. Fishing occurs without losing sight of the coast.
Deep-Sea Fishing (Altura)
This is carried out by medium-sized boats. The activity can last for days or even weeks. It involves deep-sea fishing, often without sight of the coast, sometimes up to about 2,000 km from the coast. The catches are also sold in domestic markets.
High-Seas Fishing (Gran Altura)
This involves large ships carrying hundreds of workers. The fish are cleaned, prepared, and frozen directly on the boats, which function as floating processing companies. They fish thousands of miles from their home port, using sophisticated techniques such as maritime radar and helicopters to locate schools of fish. The activity usually takes several months, and the product is sold in international markets worldwide.
2. Principal Global Fishing Areas
The main fishing areas generally coincide with the continental shelf, which is an extension of the continents under the sea. These are excellent fishing areas due to the abundance of plankton. Plankton refers to all living organisms suspended in the sea and constitutes the main food source for fish.
Key fishing grounds include:
- The Island of Newfoundland
- The Coast of Ireland
- The coral reefs of the Pacific and Indian Oceans
- The Islands of Indonesia
- The West Coast of South America
3. Common Fishing Techniques and Methods
a) Trawling
Trawling involves a moving ship that carries a wide net designed to capture fish that live at the bottom of the sea, such as hake, cod, and generally, species of white meat.
b) Purse Seine Fishing
Purse seine fishing is practiced by one or more vessels that deploy an extensive circular net to catch fish that inhabit the sea surface, such as blue fish (anchovies, sardines, etc.).
c) Longline Fishing
Longline fishing uses hooks attached to a main line. Longline vessels can use fixed or drifting lines. The fixed longline is anchored to the seabed and marked with buoys and banners. The longline is typically left overnight and retrieved in the morning to collect the catch.
d) Fixed Nets or Traps (Almadraba)
This is an ancient fishing technique, already used by the Phoenicians and Romans. Fixed nets or traps are placed in locations known for fish migrations. These fixed nets are anchored to the ground and designed to divert schools of fish into a closed chamber, where they are trapped. Subsequently, the chamber is surrounded by boats and nets. This technique is often used for species like tuna, notably off the coast of Cadiz.
e) Drifting Trammel Net
A drifting trammel net is composed of three nets of different mesh sizes joined together. It is often left to drift with the currents while fishing. Buoys and banners are used for location. At the end of the day, the trammel nets are retrieved by boats, which sometimes serve as extra fishing vessels.
f) Fishing Traps
Fishing traps are cages made of wood or iron, inside which bait is placed, and featuring a trap door. The trap is placed at the bottom of the sea. This method allows for the capture of large shellfish like lobsters.
4. Maritime Property Law: Zones of the Sea
International law distinguishes several zones regarding the property and jurisdiction of the sea:
Territorial Waters
These waters extend up to three nautical miles from the coastline. These waters belong entirely to the coastal country and serve a defensive purpose. Any vessel entering this 3-mile limit must request permission.
Jurisdictional Waters (Exclusive Economic Zone – EEZ)
These waters typically range from 3 miles up to 200 miles from the coast. This is an area designated for economic exploitation. All resources (fisheries, oil, etc.) within these waters are exploited by the coastal country. They remain areas of free transit for international shipping.
International Waters (High Seas)
These are waters that are more than 200 miles from the coastline. They belong to all mankind and are areas of free transit. Economic activities in this area are managed and regulated by the United Nations (UN).