Almeria account for the largest number of vessels, concentrating these four ports
56.3% of the entire Alboran Sea artisanal fleet (Fig. 14.3b).
14.4 Fishing Gears
Camiñas et al. (2004) described up to 29 varieties of artisanal fishing gears operating
on the Andalusian Mediterranean coast, many of which were scarcely used at that
time and have ceased to be used today. Most of these fishing gears are still used
today, but some of them have disappeared or are only used in a very limited way due
to their poor performance compared to others that are more efficient, such as the
“sardinal” (a surface gillnet for sardine) against purse seines or because they have
been prohibited by current fishing regulations, such as beach seines or towed dredges
for scallops.
At present, in order to record catch and effort data by gear types, they are grouped
into the following categories: mechanized dredges, pots and traps, bottom gillnets,
trammel nets, hand lines, “voracera,” as a special type of hand line, and bottom
longlines (Fernández Cortés and Zurita Manrubia 2003).
The mechanized dredges are used exclusively to fish bivalve mollusks (Baro et al.
1992). They are not actively towed by the main engine of the ship, but they are
pulled by a powered winch while the boat is anchored (Fig. 14.4). Council Regulation (EC) No. 1967/2006 concerning management measures for the sustainable
exploitation of fishery resources in the Mediterranean Sea, describes the mechanized
dredge as: “gears consist of a net bag or metal basket mounted on a rigid frame or rod
of variable size and shape whose lower part may carry a scraper blade that can be
either rounded, sharp or toothed, and may or may not be equipped with skids and
diving boards.” Depending on the species to be captured and the fishing area, there
are different types of mechanized dredges (Fig. 14.5). The number of dredges used
per boat varies between a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 6, depending on the
target species, being the most usual to use 3 or 4.
The fishing activity of mechanized dredges is regulated by a regional Management Plan in which safe biological reference points are established for a sustainable
exploitation for the main target species: Donax trunculus, Callista chione,
Acanthocardia tuberculata, and Chamelea gallina. This management plan also
regulates the days and times authorized for the exercise of the fishing activity, the
fishing grounds, the closed seasons, and the authorized minimum landing sizes by
species.
Traps and pots (Fig. 14.6) are stationary fishing gears that retain their prey that
enter voluntarily or because they are attracted by the use of baits. Pots do not use
baits and simulate to be a refuge or an adequate place to spawn to certain species.
Traditionally they have been made of clay, although they are progressively being
replaced by plastic ones. Pots are exclusively used to catch the common octopus
(Octopus vulgaris). Regarding traps, which always use baits, there is great diversity
according to the shape, size, and material used for their manufacture, which depends
526
J. Baro Domínguez et al.
56.3% of the entire Alboran Sea artisanal fleet (Fig. 14.3b).
14.4 Fishing Gears
Camiñas et al. (2004) described up to 29 varieties of artisanal fishing gears operating
on the Andalusian Mediterranean coast, many of which were scarcely used at that
time and have ceased to be used today. Most of these fishing gears are still used
today, but some of them have disappeared or are only used in a very limited way due
to their poor performance compared to others that are more efficient, such as the
“sardinal” (a surface gillnet for sardine) against purse seines or because they have
been prohibited by current fishing regulations, such as beach seines or towed dredges
for scallops.
At present, in order to record catch and effort data by gear types, they are grouped
into the following categories: mechanized dredges, pots and traps, bottom gillnets,
trammel nets, hand lines, “voracera,” as a special type of hand line, and bottom
longlines (Fernández Cortés and Zurita Manrubia 2003).
The mechanized dredges are used exclusively to fish bivalve mollusks (Baro et al.
1992). They are not actively towed by the main engine of the ship, but they are
pulled by a powered winch while the boat is anchored (Fig. 14.4). Council Regulation (EC) No. 1967/2006 concerning management measures for the sustainable
exploitation of fishery resources in the Mediterranean Sea, describes the mechanized
dredge as: “gears consist of a net bag or metal basket mounted on a rigid frame or rod
of variable size and shape whose lower part may carry a scraper blade that can be
either rounded, sharp or toothed, and may or may not be equipped with skids and
diving boards.” Depending on the species to be captured and the fishing area, there
are different types of mechanized dredges (Fig. 14.5). The number of dredges used
per boat varies between a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 6, depending on the
target species, being the most usual to use 3 or 4.
The fishing activity of mechanized dredges is regulated by a regional Management Plan in which safe biological reference points are established for a sustainable
exploitation for the main target species: Donax trunculus, Callista chione,
Acanthocardia tuberculata, and Chamelea gallina. This management plan also
regulates the days and times authorized for the exercise of the fishing activity, the
fishing grounds, the closed seasons, and the authorized minimum landing sizes by
species.
Traps and pots (Fig. 14.6) are stationary fishing gears that retain their prey that
enter voluntarily or because they are attracted by the use of baits. Pots do not use
baits and simulate to be a refuge or an adequate place to spawn to certain species.
Traditionally they have been made of clay, although they are progressively being
replaced by plastic ones. Pots are exclusively used to catch the common octopus
(Octopus vulgaris). Regarding traps, which always use baits, there is great diversity
according to the shape, size, and material used for their manufacture, which depends
526
J. Baro Domínguez et al.