Posted by Chester Morton / Friday 28 April 2023 / No comments
What are the different types of fisheries in the world?
Definition
Fisheries is a unique system by which people cultivate,
manage and harvest fish in commercial quantities. It refers to fishing
activities taking place in various environments, including the marine, brackish
and fresh water environments. Under fishery, we have activities such as
fishing, aquaculture, fish processing, marketing and distribution.
Some fisheries may be recreational and others may be commercial
activities such as sport or commercial fishing. There is fish processing, there
is fish farming, and fish habitat management and conservation.
TYPES OF FISHERIES
There are different
types of fisheries and some of them will be discussed in the following
paragraphs.
Culture fisheries
This is also another type of fishing. Capture fisheries is
also called aquaculture. Others also refer to it as fish farming. Here, the
fish is farmed. A familiar environment is created for the fish, to feel like
its own natural habitat. It could be done on the lake, like the Volta Lake.
Others construct ponds to keep the fish. The idea is to mimic the natural
environment, where the fish would have thrived to increase the production of
fish.
Capture fisheries
We also have other people using capture fishing. Here the
fisherman or woman goes to the fish's habitat, in their natural environment to
catch the fish. Some of the tools used include lines, nets, traps, etc. The use
of traps is common locally in Ghana, Nigeria and elsewhere. Though people catch
fish by these methods, and some sell them, many others too, just use it for
food.
Commercial fisheries
Another
type of fishing is what we refer to as commercial fishing. In this type of
fishing, the practice is to harvest fish from the wild to sell on commercial
bases and the basic aim is to make profit. It could be fish and or other types
of seafood. People do not just start commercial fishing. It is a regulated
area, at the level of the government of any particular country. There is a
licensing regime that one must follow and ensure one does not break the law.
There are several methods used un commercial fishing; one is called trawling,
another type is long-lining, others include trolling, and seining.
Subsistence fisheries
Subsistence fishing is the type of fishing, the aim is not
necessarily to sell the fish in order to make a profit, though a few may be
sold to meet household demands. In this type of fishery, most of the fish they
catch is for domestic purpose.
Artisanal fisheries
Another type of fishing is artisanal fishing. The tools
needed for artisanal fishery is rudimentary. They are not as sophisticated as
in commercial fishery. In many cases the waters from which they fish are closer
to their abode or not too far away. Some of the catch may be used domestically
but others are also sold to earn money for the home.
Recreational fisheries
In the case of recreational fishing, the major push is to
engage in a sporting activity. Fishing is to while away boredom, to go away for
a while, to engage in exercise, to have fun, and many other reasons except to
make profit. The fish they catch are mostly for use at home. They fish to keep
fit.
Industrial fisheries
Industrial fishing is another type of fishing employed by
the world. This is done on very large scales. It involved the use of very state
of the art technologies. While some use trawlers, other use long-lines and
purse seines. They catch fish in very large quantities. In most cases, this
type of fishing is done on the open ocean. They may use very large vessels or
may even sometimes use small ones. The target, in many cases are tuna, salmon,
and sardines or cod.
The cultural importance of fisheries
Fisheries forms an important part of the cultural lives of
people. It forms the basis of the transfer of traditional skills to younger
populations of the communities. In many coastal and island communities, fishing
is an integral part of their culture and identity. It is not gainsaying, that
fisheries offer employment, puts food on the table, and provides cash for
families. Cultural festivals have been instituted around fishing activities in
many communities, for example, Argungu fishing festival in North Western
Nigeria and Bakatue in the Central Region of Ghana which falls on the first
Tuesday in July every year.
Conclusion
One can conclusion that fisheries put food on the table for
many people, the world over. The fisher men use various methods to catch fish
depending on their needs, that is, if it is for domestic or for commercial
purpose. It is important to manage the fish stock in the water bodies so that
fishing is done sustainably.
