Fishing technology has developed along with human societies. From primitive bone hooks to multi-section fiberglass rods, fishing became an integral part of life that encouraged creativity.
Unfortunately, technological development has also contributed to depleting fish populations by decreasing spawning rates. There are various areas of development which should be carefully evaluated to ascertain their effects on fisheries.
Fishing Rods
Before the 17th century, fishing was typically accomplished using simple lines tied to a hook. But this all changed with the introduction of fishing rods made from hickory and ash wood before bamboo as tools of fishing – with split sections that could be glued together for strength and flexibility.
Modern rods are constructed of fiberglass and boron, with some using graphite for lighter weight, stiffness and higher tensile strength. Telescoping or ferule designs make them easy to disassemble and store in small spaces.
Different types of rods are designed for different sub-types of angling: spin fishing rods are optimized for repetitive casting and tend to be short; fly rods excel at casting lightweight artificial flies while remaining more flexible; trolling rods were made specifically to pull heavy bait or lures behind boats and have much higher ultimate tensile strength; manufacturers usually designate the bend curve of their rods as light action, fast action or slow action.
Line
Modern fishing lines are commonly constructed of nylon or monofilament materials, which while durable have their limitations when it comes to tensile strength and stretch properties. As a result, fishing line designers have been developing strategies for improving them.
Fishing has come a long way since its early days of kites with sails made of banana leaves and lines of spiderwebs. Now, fishermen use more advanced gear like gillnets and drift gill nets to target specific species with minimal impact to the seabed.
Reg Watson of the University of Tasmania and his colleagues used online databases, regional management records and vessel-tracking satellites to reconstruct global patterns of fishing vessels and gear over 150 years. While fleet size doubled between 1950 and 2015, effective catch per unit effort (CPUE) decreased in many countries – an indication of industrialized fishing exerting pressure on ocean resources.
Lures
Lures are artificial fishing baits designed to mimic the action of prey fish or prey animals to entice strikes from anglers and set hooks. Lures may be commercially made such as spoon lures or plugs or even handmade such as fishing flies.
Most lures can either be directly tied to a fishing line with improved clinch or Palomar knots, or linked through snap or swivel and handled using the rod tip like live bait would. Lures may be used on their own or combined with others such as poppers.
Each water body varies and it’s essential that your lure fits the species and conditions of your fishery. For instance, brighter lures with bright colors attract fish in clearer waters while duller baits with more realistic appearance are preferable in murki waters.
Reels
Once humans shifted from unplanned gathering to systematic food security, fishing became more widespread. Fishing rods weren’t among the earliest tools for catching fish; they rapidly improved over time and soon were joined by nets and trapping devices for capture.
With increasing population needs came large fisheries with more complex gear. Lines with multiple hooks replaced single ones; traps were combined into larger systems of thousands of small baited pots; and nets expanded using mechanical netting machines which allowed for stronger fibers and longer fiber lengths to be utilized.
Modern technology has also helped reduce bycatch, with trawl simulation software helping fish harvesters design and test their gear before it hits the sea. Unfortunately, degradation of natural environments remains an important consideration when it comes to fishing sustainability.
Boats
Over time, fishing has provided sustenance to communities, livelihoods and economies around the globe. Seafood has provided sustenance for diverse societies such as Egypt’s, Roman’s, Viking’s and Chile’s coastal people who traded shellfish for other resources inland.
Fishing boats have evolved to meet local conditions and fisheries. For instance, Grand Banks schooners used set nets and drift gill nets when sailing from New England to salt cod in the Atlantic Ocean.
Once mechanization arrived near the end of the 19th century, vessels became more standardized and faster, which helped reduce net discards while improving fish quality. Coastal fishermen also adopted innovations like Nordmore grids to decrease bycatch rates and improve fuel efficiency; but these changes may come too late for certain species; fortunately sustainable practices can help compensate for some of this damage.https://www.youtube.com/embed/zzHboSRi4zI