Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Fisheries and

for a world without hunger Aquaculture Department

Fishing Gear Types

Dredges

Dredges

Characteristics
Overview These are gears which are dragged along the bottom to catch shellfish. They consist of a mouth
frame to which a holding bag constructed of metal rings or meshes is attached. There are two main type of
dredges; heavy dredges towed by boats (boat dredges), and lighter ones operated by hand in shallow waters
(hand dredges).
Handling Equipment For operating dredges from boats derricks and winches are used to shoot and haul the
dredges. Hand dredges are handled without any specific equipment.
Vessel Overview The Dredgers are medium to large vessels ( maximum 4-50 m long) and in general with
powerful engines. Some larger dredgers are outrigger type with strong outrigger boom allowing the operation
of two or more dredges at the same time.
Fish Operation The dredges are gears which are dragged along the bottom. They scrape up American sea
scallop and other shellfish from the sea bed. One or more dredges can be used at the same time. At industrial
scale up to 10 dredges can be mounted side by side on a beam which is towed from a unique warp.
Target Species Dredges are employed usually to collect shellfish and molluscs such as mussels, oysters,
scallops, clams, etc.
Water Area Overview All over the world.

Gear Environment Dredges are generally operated not too far from the coastline always in "hard" contact with
the bottom in both inland and in marine waters. Dredges might also be used for harvesting sea bed farmed
mussels.
Impacts

Species A dredge may give rise to various degree of impacts to the sea floor and the benthic organisms
living there.

FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department

FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department