(a) A vessel engaged in fishing, whether underway or at anchor, shall exhibit only the lights and shapes prescribed in this Rule. (b) A vessel when engaged in trawling, by which is meant the dragging through the water of a dredge net or other apparatus used as a fishing appliance, shall exhibit: (i) two all-round lights in a vertical line, the upper being green and the lower white, or a shape consisting of two cones with their apexes together in a vertical line one above the other; (ii) a masthead light abaft of and higher than the all-round green light; a vessel of less than 50 metres in length shall not be obliged to exhibit such a light but may do so; (iii) when making way through the water, in addition to the lights prescribed in this paragraph, sidelights and a sternlight. 1
(c) (d) (e) A vessel engaged in fishing, other than trawling shall exhibit: (i) two all-round lights in a vertical line, the upper being red and the lower white, or a shape consisting of two cones with apexes together in a vertical line one above the other; (ii) when there is outlying gear extending more than 150 metres horizontally from the vessel, an all-round white light or a cone apex upwards in the direction of the gear; (iii) when making way through the water, in addition to the lights prescribed in this paragraph, sidelights and a sternlight. The additional signals described in Annex II to these Regulations apply to a vessel engaged in fishing in close proximity to other vessels engaged in fishing. A vessel when not engaged in fishing shall not exhibit the lights or shapes prescribed in this Rule, but only those prescribed for a vessel of her length. 2
Species of fish In principle there are three species of fish: Pelagic fish Demersal fish Shellfish and molluscs For more details, please refer to the manual: International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea by Capt. Pierre Deseck, M Sc, FNI. Go to http://maritimeknowhow.com for details on how the purchase this manual. 3
Fishing gear The main fishing methods at sea can be grouped according to the fishing gear used: Towed or dragged gear such as: Trawling Dredging Encircling gear such as: Danish seine Purse seine Static gear such as: Drift nets Floating gillnets Bottom gillnets Longline fishing Fish traps Other gear such as: Troll lines Harpoons Etc 4
Fishing methods Trawling Trawling is a fishing method which consists of dragging a large bag made of netting over the sea bottom (bottom trawling) or at any depth (floating or mid-water trawling) 5
Fishing gear Otter trawl The otter trawl is a large bag-shaped net dragged along the sea bed. The mouth of the net is spread open horizontally by two otter boards or doors (nr. 2) 6
Fishing gear Otter trawl 7
Fishing methods Otter trawl 8
Fishing methods There are several types of trawlers used: Side trawlers Stern trawlers (see further for details) Beam trawlers (see further for details) Side trawler 9
Fishing methods The trawler manoeuvres to haul in the net to her windward side The net is ready to be heaved aboard by means of the quarter ropes 10
Fishing methods The cod-end is hoisted aboard. A sharp stroke releases the cod-end knot allowing the fish to be spilled on deck 11
Fishing methods The cod-end is hoisted aboard A sharp stroke releases the cod-end knot allowing the fish to be spilled on deck 12
Fishing methods Stern trawler The net is now handled from the stern of the trawler. Only the cod-end is heaved aboard or, with modern stern trawlers, nearly the whole net is heved on deck 13
Fishing methods Stern trawler 14
Fishing methods Beam trawler Beam trawling is a variation of the ordinary side trawling. Instead of one large net, two smaller trawls are towed by two outrigger booms or fishing derricks, one on each side of the vessel 15
Fishing methods There are two main types of beam trawlers: One using otter trawls One using beam trawls 16
Fishing methods Beam trawler using otter trawls 17
Fishing methods Beam trawler using beam trawls 18
Fishing methods Beam trawl 19
Fishing methods Beam trawler pulling two beam trawls 20
Fishing methods The beam trawl is heaved alongside the vessel 21
Fishing methods The trawl is hoisted on board 22
Fishing methods The cod-ends are likewise pulled on board A beam trawler is also called a twin-rig trawler 23
Fishing methods Mid-water trawling The mid-water trawl is used to catch pelagic fish which moves in schools at various depths between the bottom and the surface of the sea 24
Fishing methods Bottom pair trawling Steel wire Two trawlers pull one otter trawl. The two bows are linked to each other by means of a steel wire. Never try to navigate between both vessels. 25
Fishing methods Pair mid-water trawling 26
Fishing methods Seine net The seine net also called Danish seine net, is a bottom fishing method. It is a combination of encircling and dragging gear. The net is similar to the trawl net but it is much larger and lighter. The vessel reaches the fishing ground (a) drops her anchor and first warp (h) is set out in a circular track. In (i) the net is put overboard. Second warp is set out in a similar track. In (a) the anchor is reshackled to the vessel s windlass. 27
Fishing methods Seine net fishing Both warps are heaved in together while vessel remains at anchor. During hauling operation both warps are closing, herding the fish to the centre. 28
Fishing methods Seine net fishing Usually the vessel remains at anchor while heaving on the warps. Scottish fishermen do not use an anchor and heave on the warps while the vessel is kept on the tide. This is called Scottish seining or Fly dragging Japanese fishermen stem the tide and tow the net over the bottom while heaving on the warps. This is Japanese seining or Tow dragging. 29
Fishing methods The ring net or Purse Seine Purse seining is also an encircling fishing method. A long net is set out to form a hanging curtain around a school of fish. The bottom of the net is than pulled together to form a small pond or purse holding the catch. Purse seining may be undertaken by a single vessel, a pair of vessels or a combination of a large vessel and auxiliary boats. Sometimes, small planes or helicopters are used to spot the schools of fish. 30
Fishing methods Purse seining The net is set out to form a hanging curtain around the school 31
Fishing methods Purse seining 32
Fishing methods Purse seining When the bottom line is closed, the net holds the catch in a purse 33
Fishing methods Seine netting The net and the fish are now along the ship s side 34
Fishing methods Purse seining Finally, the fish is removed from the net by bailing or by means of a fish pump. 35
Fishing methods Drift nets or Gillnets Driftnets or gillnets belong to the static fishing gear A driftnet is a rectangular net hanging vertically in the water near the surface. A complete fleet may be 3 to 6 km long. 36
Fishing methods Drift nets or Gillnets Bottom gillnet Gillnets are not only found near the surface of the water but also on the bottom of the sea, the so-called bottom gillnets. 37
Fishing methods Bottom gillnet 38
Fishing methods Scottish driftnet 39
Fishing methods Scottish driftnet The vessel stays to leeward of the nets 40
Fishing methods Bottom longline 41
Fishing methods Bottom longline 42
Fishing methods Sub-surface longline 43
Fishing methods Sub-surface longline The longline can be several kilometers long with thousands of hooks 44
Fishing methods Trolling 45
Fishing methods Trolling 46
Fishing methods Fish traps 47
Fishing methods Fish trap 48
Fishing methods Fish trap 49
Vessel engaged in fishing Rule 26 (a) A vessel engaged in fishing, whether underway, OR at anchor, shall exhibit only the lights and shapes prescribed in this rule. Hence, A vessel engaged in fishing and at anchor does not show the anchor lights or shapes but only the lights and shapes prescribed by Rule 26. Rule 26 does not apply to most recreational fishing. Indeed, according to Rule 3 (d) the fishing apparatus must restrict the manoeuvrability of the vessel No distinction is made between power-driven fishing vessels and sailing fishing vessels 50
Vessel engaged in trawling Rule 26 (b) A trawler shall exhibit: When making way through the water: An all-round green and a white light (fishing lights) Sidelights A sternlight When not making way through the water: An all-round green and a white light (fishing lights) Trawlers more than 50 m in length: A masthead light abaft and higher than the fishing lights 51
Vessel engaged in trawling Rule 26 (b) All-round lights Rule 26 (b) (i) and (iii) Making way through the water Less than 50 m in length Bow view 52
Vessel engaged in trawling Rule 26 (b) Trawler making way through the water, less than 50 m in length. Port side view 53
Vessel engaged in trawling Rule 26 (b) Trawler making way through the water, less than 20 m in length. Bow view 54
Vessel engaged in trawling Rule 26 (b) Vessel engaged in trawling. Not making way through the water. Less than 50 m in length 55
Vessel engaged in trawling Rule 26 (b) Vessel engaged in trawling. More or less than 50 m in length. Making way through the water. Stern view. 56
Vessel engaged in trawling Rule 26 (b) Rule 26 (b) (i), (ii) and (iii) Vessel engaged in trawling More or less than 50 m long Making way through the water Port side view 57
By day Two cones with their points together (diabolo) in a vertical line, one above the other 58
Vessel engaged in trawling Rule 26 (b) Vessel engaged in trawling by day Two cones with their points together (diabolo) in a vertical line, one above the other 59
Vessel engaged in trawling Rule 26 (b) Vessel engaged in trawling by day 60
Vessel engaged in trawling Rule 26 (b) BOTTOM TRAWLING The towing warps of trawlers do not extend very far behind the vessel. Their fishing gear is, consequently, not much of an impediment to other ships and they may thus be passed at a relatively short distance. 61
Vessel engaged in trawling Rule 26 (b) PELAGIC TRAWLING This is far too close Some trawlers may pull their trawl net at a considerable high speed of up to 12 knots With the floating or mid-water trawl it is quite different and they should not be approached closer than abt. one mile from the stern 62
Vessels engaged in fishing other than trawling Rule 26 (c) Outlying gear 150 m or less When making way through the water An all-round red and a white light (fishing lights) Sidelights A sternlight When not making way through the water An all-round red and a white light (fishing lights) BY DAY Two cones with their points together (diabolo) in a vertical line one above the other. 63
Vessels engaged in fishing other than trawling Rule 26 (c) Rule 26 (c) (i) and (iii) Vessel engaged in fishing other than trawling Fishing gear extending 150 m or less Making way through the water Starboard side view 64
Vessels engaged in fishing other than trawling Rule 26 (c) Driftnetter making way through the water. Fishing gear extending 150 m or less. Starboard side view. 65
Vessels engaged in fishing other than trawling Rule 26 (c) Driftnetter not making way through the water. Fishing gear extending 150 m or less 66
Vessels engaged in fishing other than trawling Rule 26 (c) Fishing gear extending 150 m or less 67
Vessels engaged in fishing other than trawling Rule 26 (c) It was a good catch 68
Vessels engaged in fishing other than trawling Rule 26 (c) Outlying gear more than 150 m When making way through the water An all-round red and a white light (fishing lights) Sidelights A sternlight An all-round white light in the direction of the gear When not making way through the water An all-round red and a white light (fishing lights) An all-round white light in the direction of the gear BY DAY Two cones with their points together (diabolo) in a vertical line one above the other A cone apex upwards in the direction of the gear 69
Rule 26 (c) (i), (ii) and (iii) Vessel engaged in fishing other than trawling Outlying gear extending more than 150 metres Fishing gear astern Making way through the water Port side view 70
Vessels engaged in fishing other than trawling Rule 26 (c) Longliner making way through the water. Fishing gear extending more than 150 m at the stern. Starboard side view 71
Vessels engaged in fishing other than trawling Rule 26 (c Rule 26 (c) (i) and (ii) Vessel engaged in fishing other than trawling Fishing gear extending more than 150 m Fishing gear in front 72
Vessels engaged in fishing other than trawling Rule 26 (c) The line is sometimes several kilometers long. Such vessel should be past on the opposite side of the extra white light or cone. If this is not possible pass between 2 buoys, preferably with engines stopped. 73
Signals to attract attention Rule 26 (c) and 36 Rule 26 (c) (i) and Rule 36 Vessel engaged in fishing other than trawling Directing a search light towards her nets 74
Signals to attract attention Rule 26 (c) and 36 Rule 26 (b) (i) and Rule 36 Vessel engaged in trawling Making use of deck lights 75
Additional signals Rule 26 (d) Additional signals for pair trawling With their searchlight the vessels light up the wire cable that link their bows 76
Additional signals Rule 26 (d) Additional signals for pair trawling Vessels engaged in pair trawling shooting their nets 77
Additional signals Rule 26 (d) Additional signals for pair trawling Vessels engaged in pair trawling with their nets fast upon an obstruction 78
Additional signals Rule 26 (d) Additional signals for pair trawling Vessels engaged in pair trawling hauling their nets 79
Additional signals Rule 26 (d) Additional signals for purse seiners 80
Particular signals Signal P: My nets have come fast upon an obstruction Signal U: You are running into danger Signal G: I am hauling nets Signal T: Keep clear of me; I am engaged in pair trawling Signal Z: I am shooting nets. 81