With over a dozen Irish pelagic and polyvalent vessels currently working south of Ireland and as far down as the Bay of Biscay in their attempt to fill their annual albacore tuna quota, SNG tuna trawls are a strong presence in this fishery.
Unlike conventional pelagic or demersal trawls, tuna nets need to be designed to allow for the speed required for this fishery but at the same time need to have strength for surface fishing.
SNG’s typical tuna trawls are 665 and 973m in size and the company is constantly looking for ways to improve on existing versions. The latest design has a front section diamond mesh configuration with twisted right-hand lay nylon twine (or optional left/right lay nylon twine) with an optional two sections of hexagonal mesh between the trawl mouth and tunnel.
The inclusion of a square mesh section between the trawl and the brailer has been an added advantage for those in the tuna fishery, as this section will stay open and hold its shape better to allow flow of water and ease the fish back to the codend, which in turn keeps the gear keeps fishing longer.
This, and the other innovations in SNG’s tuna trawl has brought much positive feedback from skippers who state that the trawls are easy to shoot and to tow compared to previous designs with the same dimensions but with considerably more resistance.
Manufactured in a twisted or braided nylon netting, SNG are offering those involved in this fishery the choice of a conventional four-panel tunnel or a new eight-panel version for improved water flow, greater stability, added strength and increased mesh opening.
With the codends available in 42, 48, 54 and 70m sizes, many skippers now prefer to have these made in black braided nylon netting and, with SNG’s innovative new DynIce Band and Handle System which does away with the need for steel rings at the splitter section – thus making the gear much lighter.
