What is the difference between recreational and commercial fishing?
In the early era, fishing was done mainly for food consumption, but today, it is practiced not only for consumption but also for fun, research work, and industrial purposes. Technological advances have made catching fish easier, however there are still many people who prefer the traditional way of fishing for the purpose of relaxation.
Modern fishing is broadly classified into recreational and commercial fishing.
Differentiating Recreational and Commercial
Recreational fishing is also known as sport fishing. Usually this is done for fun and competition purposes. Using the basic method of catching, this type of fishing differs from the commercial category in many respects. The catch of fish in this category is usually carried out in lighter boats with rods, reels, hooks and baits. Lighter boats are used so as not to disturb the successful catch.
Sometimes this is also done inland with the same equipment that is used, usually next to a lake.
What is commercial or industrial fishing?
Commercial fishing, if done on a large scale, is also called industrial fishing. This type of commercial fishing using equipment such as trawlers and factory boats aims to provide a supply of seafood to the market. Trawlers are used for commercial purposes, while factory ships are used for industrial purposes.
Generally, trawlers are equipped with nets, trawls and traps. Factory vessels, on the other hand, are large vessels with dynamic facilities on board for immediate processing and freezing of caught seafood. These factory ships are capable of storing tons of shellfish at a time. Unlike recreational fishing, commercial fishing is a serious career that generates income for people. But it is considered a very dangerous career path due to its high death rate.
The alarming rate of extinction of marine species has also been attributed to this type of industrial fishing.
What is the role of the government
Various non-profit organizations continually petition against recreational fishing and commercial fishing to protect other forms of marine life. Thus, some government agencies were formed to monitor the excessive capture of fish that can be dangerous for the existence of various marine species. Strict rules and regulations have been imposed to control the catch of fish to a reasonable degree.
Like commercial fishing, recreational fishing is also subject to government intervention. Government regulations establish quotas, treaties and laws to control the catch of fish; otherwise, the extinction of marine species will increase at an alarming rate.