Some commercial purse seines can reach more than 6,500 ft (2,000 m) in length and 650 ft (200 m) in depth, according to NOAA Fisheries. That is an example of the scale a purse seine can reach—not a typical size for every commercial fishing net. Net dimensions depend on the gear, vessel, target species, fishing area, and regulations.
What does “net size” mean?
A net’s size can refer to its overall length, its vertical depth or height when deployed, or the size of its mesh openings. These measurements describe different things: length and depth describe the net itself, while mesh size affects which fish can pass through or be retained.
- Length: The net’s horizontal extent or overall length, depending on the gear and how the specification is reported.
- Depth or height: How far the net reaches vertically. For a gillnet, this is the height of the panel; for a purse seine, it is the net’s vertical depth.
- Mesh opening: The space between strands of netting. Mesh is selected for the intended catch and may be subject to rules for a particular fishery.
How large are different commercial nets?
Purse seines
A purse seine is a wall of netting used to surround a school of fish. Floats support its top edge, while a line threaded through rings along the bottom can be pulled to close the net underneath the fish. NOAA Fisheries says purse seines can exceed 6,500 ft (2,000 m) in length and reach 650 ft (200 m) in depth; the agency notes that dimensions vary with the vessel, mesh size, and target species. These are upper-scale figures, not a universal commercial standard. NOAA Fisheries: Purse seines
Gillnets
A gillnet is a vertical panel of netting that catches fish when they try to pass through its mesh. There is no single length or height that applies to all commercial gillnets: according to NOAA Fisheries, mesh size, length, and height depend on fishing area, target species, and applicable regulations.
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Seines and trawls
Other nets are shaped for their method of capture rather than being a simple panel. The Australian Government describes seine nets as having wings and a section that retains the catch. Trawls have several specialized sections, including a codend where fish collect; the codend mesh is the smallest in the net. Those differences make a single length or depth comparison across all seine and trawl designs misleading. Australian Government: Nets
A smaller documented purse-seine example
NOAA’s Northwest Fisheries Science Center reports that purse seines used by its research program are 500–1,500 ft long and 30–90 ft deep. Their mesh ranges from 0.45 to 1.3 in, depending on where it is located in the net. These are dimensions for that center’s research gear, not an average or representative range for commercial fishing nets. NOAA Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Appendix B (October 2022)
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Why net dimensions vary
Net design follows the job it must do: encircle a school, hang at a chosen depth, or be towed through the water. The vessel and the target species also influence dimensions, while mesh opening is chosen for the intended catch and may be regulated.
The FAO’s Fisherman’s workbook gives a purse-seine rule of thumb: minimum length of at least 15 times the seiner’s length, with minimum depth equal to 10% of the seine’s length. This is technical construction guidance, not a universal rule or a description of every net in use. FAO: Fisherman’s workbook—Fishing gear and operations
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Are there legal size limits?
Some jurisdictions set dimensions or mesh requirements for particular gear and fisheries, but rules are not worldwide standards. For example, the European Union’s Council Regulation (EC) No 1967/2006 includes gear-characteristic limits for specified categories. Its provisions apply within that legal framework; they should not be treated as limits for every commercial net or fishery elsewhere. EU Council Regulation (EC) No 1967/2006
To identify the applicable dimensions or legal limits for a particular operation, you need at least the gear type, fishery or fishing area, target species, vessel, and jurisdiction. The available figures do not establish a worldwide average across commercial net types.
Does a bigger net necessarily mean more environmental impact?
Not by size alone. Purse seines can encircle non-target animals as well as the intended school, and NOAA identifies protected-species capture as a potential concern. The gear’s design and use matter; a large dimension by itself does not establish the effect on a particular fishery. NOAA Fisheries: Purse seines
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