otter trawl
fishing equipment
Quick Summary
An otter trawl is a type of fishing equipment used in commercial fishing. It involves a cone-shaped net that is dragged along the seabed by trawlers. To keep the mouth of the net open, it uses otter boards, which are flat plates attached to each side of the net that spread horizontally due to water pressure. A rope with weights also helps keep the bottom edge of the net open.123
This method can cause significant damage to the ocean floor, disturbing and destroying bottom-dwelling species and their habitats.2
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