NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Marine Fisheries - Bottom-Disturbing Fishing Gear

Marine Fisheries

Bottom-Disturbing Fishing Gear

Habitats Affected: Shell bottom, SAV, soft bottom, ocean hard bottom, water column

Common Sources: (See table below)

Fishing gear	Water column	Shell bottom	SAV	Soft bottom	Hard bottom
Bay scallop dredge	Low/unsure	Low/unsure	Low/unsure
Bull rake		Low/unsure	Severe
Clam hand rake		Low/unsure	Low/unsure
Clam tongs		Low/unsure	Moderate
Clam trawl (kicking)	Low/unsure	Moderate	Severe	Low/unsure
Crab dredge	Low/unsure	Moderate	Severe	Low/unsure	Low/unsure
Crab trawl	Low/unsure	Moderate	Moderate	Low/unsure	Low/unsure
Hydraulic clam dredge	Low/unsure	Moderate	Severe	Low/unsure
Long haul seine		Low/unsure	Low/unsure
Oyster dredge	Low/unsure	Moderate	Severe	Low/unsure
Pots			Low/unsure		Low/unsure
Shrimp trawl	Low/unsure	Moderate	Low/unsure	Low/unsure	Low/unsure

Impacts:

Mobile bottom-disturbing gears dig down into the bottom and uproot SAV.
Hard bottom and shell bottom structure can be broken apart, killing organisms and reducing habitat value.
The vertical profile of subtidal oyster reefs can be lowered, making the shell bottom community more susceptible to low oxygen events.
Elevated turbidity can degrade water column, SAV, shell botttom, or hard bottom habitat, depending on the frequency and intensity.
Disturbance of soft bottom habitat can alter productivity of benthic microalgae and reduce structural complexity of the bottom.

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N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries • 3441 Arendell Street • Morehead City, NC 28557 • (252) 726-7021 or 1-800-682-2632

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N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources

1601 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1601 USA

Headquarters (Environment and Natural Resources Building): 217 W. Jones St.

Archdale Building: 512 N. Salisbury St.

Toll Free: (877) 623-6748

NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Marine Fisheries - Bottom-Disturbing Fishing Gear

Marine Fisheries

Bottom-Disturbing Fishing Gear

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