Bottom set gillnet

Gillnets are long rectangular panels of netting with diamond-shaped mesh that are held vertically in the water column and anchored either so that the net touches the bottom or so it is suspended above the ocean floor. Fish swim into the net and are entangled by the gills, fins and spines. The nets are kept vertical by the floats along the top and weights along the bottom.

Only demersal gillnets (touching the ocean’s floor) are permitted in Australia, and are used by one Commonwealth fishery to catch school and gummy sharks.

Bottom set gillnet (PDF 190kb)

Page last updated 28 June, 2005