What Bottom Trawling Really Does Beneath the Waves

Added: 2026-05-27

[00:00:00][music] >> A bottom trawl is a type of fishing net that's pulled along the seafloor.

[00:00:06]Fishermen commonly use bottom trawls to catch shrimp and bottom-dwelling [music] fish like halibut and sole. In addition to these target fish, however, the nets also catch a variety of [music] ocean life that's usually thrown back dead or dying.

[00:00:18]Dragging heavy gear across the seabed can also damage sensitive seafloor habitat.

[00:00:23]Reducing the harmful effects of bottom [music] trawling requires either modifying the fishing gear or limiting the areas where trawling is allowed to protect sensitive bottom-dwelling organisms [music] and their habitat.