Below are brief explanations of some of the most common tuna fishing methods and techniques.
A gill net that is unattached meaning it can drift with the current. Drift nets are commonly used for tuna fishing as well as to catch shark and squid.
Drift net fisheries are one of the major threats to dolphins and because of this the EU brought in a ban on drift nets longer than 2.5km in 1992. Problems persisted and because of this a full EU ban was brought in ten years later.
Fish Attraction Devices (FADs)
It is known that tuna fish often swim with dolphins and whale sharks. By imitating the call of these creatures, fishermen can attract tuna to their boats to maximise their fishing haul.
Handline
One of the oldest techniques for fishing - using lines and hooks. This method is highly selective - great for sustainable tuna fishing - as fish are caught live and the fisherman can easily toss back unwanted catches.
A disadvantage of this fishing method is that it can be slow, so many automated systems have been developed to aid the fisherman.
Trolling
Often used to catch tuna (albacore and skipjack) as well as other fish like barracuda, marlin and salmon, trolling involves multiple lines with bait being drawn through the water by boat.
Harpoon
A very selective method of fishing - the target must be in sight before it can be caught, meaning a very low rate of wastage. Normally limited to large fish like tuna and swordfish. Harpooning has earned a bad reputation for its effect on whale numbers.
Suggestions:
Read about how to maximise your haul from these tuna fishing methods in the Advanced Secrets of Tuna Fishing e-book.
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