Essay Competition SEAMAFSCC July 2016

Trammel Net Modification as Alternative Fishing Gear for Sustainable

Fisheries
Sugeng Hartono1, Rilo Panbudi2, dan Faisal Ramadhan T3

1. Introduction
Indonesian government which is represented by Minister of Marine Affairs and
Fisheries released the official regulation related with fisheries surprisingly about one year
ago. This regulation is Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries of Republic of Indonesia
Regulation No. 2 Year 2015 about Prohibition of Using Trawls Fishing Gear and Seine Nets
at Fisheries Utilization Area of Republic of Indonesia. The prohibition is reputed as tangible
action of government in committing conservation of natural resources and implementation
of sustainable fisheries. The problem is prohibition of using trawls and seine nets has
influenced the productivity of some fisheries commodity in Indonesia during its
implementation. The descent of productivity has pushed the fisheries society to find solution
in order to keep their business run, even though prohibition is still valid.
One of methods that can be done by fisheries society to face this issue is using
alternative fishing gear. The example of this kind of fishing gear is trammel net, because
operation method and species target of this fishing gear is appropriated with trawls and seine
nets. Fishermen operate this fishing gear by sweeping seafloor to entangle and catch demersal
organisms. In addition, this fishing gear operation is permitted by Indonesia government, yet
it is not as effective as trawls and seine nets.
The inefficiency of trammel net is caused by the construction itself. Three layer of
trammel net are made from multifilament polyamide. This type of material has bigger density
than water density, which is 1140 kgf/m3. Meanwhile the density of sea water is 1027 kgf/m3.
Therefore, each layer seems to be sunk while it were drowned. The sinking force of nets and
foot rope that is bigger than the buoyancy force make the nets body stretched adequately.
Net body of trammel net is stretched perfectly while it was being operated. Inner net
is also stretched in the water, but there is the existence of slackness at the bottom of net. This
condition make fishing gear catch sea organisms only at the bottom of net effectively.
Meanwhile some part of net at the top of fishing gear has more tension because of the
dynamic of fishing gear itself.
The effectiveness of trammel net can be increased by applying fishing gear
modification. The idea is to distribute the slackness of inner net to a certain net body of
trammel net. Every part of net body of trammel net will have the same probability to catch
sea organisms vertically. Demersal organisms could be caught at the bottom of net, whereas
organisms in the column of water body are caught at the top of net.

2. Trammel Net Construction

Modification of trammel net results a new construction of trammel net which has
three part of slackness. Inner net of trammel net is distributed to a certain net body of trammel
net. Technically, one supporting line is used to apply this modification. Figure 1 shows the

Creation in Developing Fisheries and Maritime Sectors to Create the ASEAN as the Global
Maritime Nexus: Sustainable Fisheries and Marine by Product
Essay Competition SEAMAFSCC July 2016

side view of trammel net modification. Meanwhile, the construction of trammel net which is
available to use is showed by Table 1.

Figure 1 The side view of trammel net with modification

Table 1 The construction of trammel net which is available to use

Trammel net
Inner net Outer net
Mesh size 1.75 inch 7 inch
Number of mesh in depth 45 3
Vertical slack 1,33 -
Hang-in ratio 0.45 (top); 0.59 (bottom) 0.45 (top); 0.59 (bottom)
Material Polyamide Polyamide
Length of net 25 m (top); 33 m (bottom) 25 m (top); 33 m (bottom)
Depth of net 0.76-1.5 m 0.76-1.5 m

3. Dynamics of Trammel Net

Trammel net with modification is available to catch sea organisms at some part of net
body. Slackness of inner net affects the ability of fishing gear to snare by increasing its
elasticity. This slackness is distributed at the bottom of net, middle of net, and top of net.
Thus, there will be many of sea organisms get tangled by this trammel net. Figure 2 shows
the side view of trammel net when it is operated in the sea.

Creation in Developing Fisheries and Maritime Sectors to Create the ASEAN as the Global
Maritime Nexus: Sustainable Fisheries and Marine by Product
Essay Competition SEAMAFSCC July 2016

Figure 2 The side view of trammel net with modification in the water column

Creation in Developing Fisheries and Maritime Sectors to Create the ASEAN as the Global
Maritime Nexus: Sustainable Fisheries and Marine by Product