Net Panels Research Articles

Influence of knot strength on the mechanical performance of a biodegradable gillnet

Ghost fishing is a global issue that can be addressed using fishing gear materials that do not persist in the marine environment. However, for these alternatives to be widely adopted, they must meet the same mechanical specifications as current commercial materials while degrading without any negative impact. The objective of this study was to compare a conventional gillnet made of polyamide 6 (PA6) with an alternative made of poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBSAT) at three different scales: monofilament, knot, and net. While the PBSAT monofilament’s strength was half that of the conventional PA6 net, knot and net losses were even more significant. This indicates a greater sensitivity of the material to the knot. Since the results between the knot and net scales were coherent, testing whole net panels is not necessary. Studying the curvature and the behaviour of the knot revealed its complex geometry and mechanical behaviour. Testing the weaver’s knot is a good indicator for studying the relevance of an alternative to conventional fishing gear materials. This should be considered when developing biodegradable nets in order to reduce ghost fishing at sea.

Numerical modelling of the interaction between flexible net panels and fluids using SPH method

Numerical modelling of the interaction between flexible net panels and fluids using SPH method

Hydrodynamic characteristics of rigid net panels for mariculture facilities as determined in flume-tank experiment

Mariculture facilities composed of rigid nets in practical applications gain increasing popularity due to the benefits of high strength and resistance to biofouling. In terms of structural safety and stability, the hydrodynamic characteristics of rigid nets are essential for design optimization and dynamic simulation, yet a comprehensive understanding is currently lacking. Hydrodynamic experiments were thus conducted to investigate four types of rigid net panels in a flume tank. The experiments considered variations in both the angles of attack (ranging from 0° to 90°) and flow velocities (ranging from 0.3 to 1.2 m/s). The results revealed that the drag coefficient of woven net panels exhibited the largest variation range, ranging from 0.13 to 1.26. The tortoise-shell net panels exhibited the lowest drag coefficients when the net panel was normal to the current while the drag coefficients were largest when the net panel was parallel to the current. The maximum lift coefficients, observed when the value of the angle of attack was 50°, were approximately 0.41 for woven net panels, 0.39 for welded net panels, 0.26 for chain-link net panels, and 0.27 for tortoise-shell net panels. Furthermore, hydrodynamic models of rigid net panels with better prediction performances than previous models were proposed. Considering the diverse application scenarios and hydrodynamic differences, utilizing the specific hydrodynamic models to improve prediction accuracy is recommended.

An improved porous media model for simulating the flow–nets interaction

This study presents an improved porous media model for simulating the interaction between the fixed aquaculture nets and flow. The fluid motion is computed based on the Reynolds time-averaged Navier–Stokes equations on the regular Eulerian mesh. The porous media model simulates the nets, where the interface between the complex shapes of the nets and the fluid is determined by the continuous forced immersed boundary (IB) method. The fluid volume fraction is defined and embedded in the porous media coefficients and porosity equations to set the porous media parameters at IB. Several cases validate the model, including the flow interactions with the single net panel, gravity net cage, and offshore aquaculture platform. Meanwhile, the effects of incoming velocity, attack angle, solidity, and the shape of the net on the simulation are investigated. The numerical model can reasonably predict the hydrodynamic of the nets with a relative error of less than 8%. Moreover, the computational efficiency of the hydrodynamic of complex shaped nets is significantly improved, with a maximum of about 11.54 times.

Numerical and experimental study of two common types of fouled net panels in the ocean

In this paper, the hydrodynamic and surrounding flow field characteristics of fouled nets panel are studied based on numerical and experimental methods. The types of fouled nets panel are analyzed and be divided into shell aggregation fouled net and bio-accumulation fouled net according to the attachment location and morphological characteristics of contaminants. Physical models of each type of fouled nets panel are made manually for water tank experiments. The corresponding numerical simplified model was established using the large eddy simulation method for flow field simulation to calculate and analyze the hydrodynamics of the net, capture the subtle changes in the flow field caused by pollutants, quantify and analyze the permeability of each hydroid-fouled nets.

Mitigating bycatch in Mediterranean trammel net fisheries using species-specific gear modifications.

Small-scale fisheries (SSF) use static gear which are thought to interact with marine ecosystems more benignly than towed gear. Despite this, trammel nets, one of the most extensively used type of fishing gear in the Mediterranean SSF, generate large amounts of discards, which can account for 25% or more of the captured biomass. Discarded organisms may include endangered or threatened species such as elasmobranchs, as well as non-commercial invertebrates that damage fishing gear or cause disentanglement delays. We evaluated various trammel-net gear modifications, including (i) the use of a guarding net attached to the footrope, (ii) increasing the length of the rigging twine between the footrope and the netting panel, and (iii) decreasing the mesh size of the outer panels. The last two modifications were successful in lowering captures of the marbled electric ray Torpedo marmorata, which is commonly discarded in the study area. Both sorts of modifications are relatively simple, their manufacturing does not represent an added cost to implement, and most importantly they do not negatively affect the catch of the target species. The current study shows that prior evaluation of the discard profile of distinct métiers is essential to accomplish species-specific gear modifications and underlines the importance of collaboration among scientists, fishers and gear manufacturers.

Sinking Behavior of Netting Panels Made with Various Twine Materials, Solidity Ratios, Knot Types, and Leadline Weights in Flume Tank

Netting is an important component of fishing gear design, and its ability to sink determines the effectiveness of fishing gears such as purse seines, falling nets, and stick-held nets. Therefore, it is crucial to thoroughly investigate the sinking parameters (sinking depth and sinking speed) of the netting panel as a function of the leadline weights using various twine materials, knot types, and solidity ratios. In this study, a generalized additive model (GAM) was utilized to analyze the impact of each factor on the sinking performances of the netting. The results revealed that the sinking depth of the netting was positively correlated with sinking time and leadline weight. However, the netting featured a maximum sinking depth limit, indicating that the sinking depth would not increase beyond a leadline weight of 69.5 g. During the initial phase of the sinking process, the sinking velocity of each netting panel initially increased but gradually decreased over time. The incorporation of a leadline weight reduced sinking time. Thereby, polyester netting exhibited the shortest average sinking time. A comparison of netting types with similar solidity ratios showed that the maximum sinking depth of the nylon netting was 13.20% and 10.11% greater than that of polyethylene and polyester nettings, respectively. In addition, nylon nets’ time average sinking speed was 64.58% and 4.62% greater than that of polyethylene and polyester nettings, respectively. The analysis of the GAM model clearly showed that the leadline weight has a significant effect on the netting sinking speed and depth. To ensure that the netting can reach its maximum sinking speed, it is strongly recommended to use nylon and polyester nettings with a low solidity ratio, i.e., a lower twine diameter and greater mesh size with a higher leadline weight, when constructing fishing gear such as purse seines with higher net leadline weights.

Computational hydrodynamics of fishing nets using a surface-based porous media model

Fishing nets are the main component of fishing gears and aquaculture cages. Modelling net panels as thin solids with porous media properties is a recent approach to study the interaction between netting and the water flow using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). However, the application of this technique to complex netting geometries, like fishing trawls with selective devices, raise several difficulties related with the pre-processing and the ability to deal with large deformations. To solve these problems, we propose to model the geometry of net panels as triangulated surfaces instead of thin solids, and then automatically create regions of porous media in the CFD mesh cells that surround these surfaces. Two test cases are used to verify and assess the proposed method. Results show that it has several advantages over the thin solid approach: it greatly simplifies the pre-processing of complex netting geometries, it allows easier control over the thickness of the porous media and the number of generated porous zones, and it can deal with large deformations in net panels. It also allows an easier coupling between the solid solver and the fluid solver in fluid–structure applications, since structural models of netting can be easily mapped to triangulated surfaces.

Effects of Inclination Angles on the Hydrodynamics of Knotless Net Panels in Currents

Knotless nets have been extensively used in sea cages and offshore fish farms; the explicit illustrations of local flow patterns and subjected hydrodynamic loads have practical implications for the safe operations of aquaculture pens in open oceans. However, the effects of inclination angles of knotless nets on local flow patterns have not yet been fully discussed. In this paper, the effects of inclination angles on local time-averaged and instantaneous flow fields, velocity reductions and force coefficients are investigated using a k-ω shear stress transport-improved delayed detached eddy simulation (SST-IDDES) high-fidelity turbulence model. It is demonstrated that the inclination angles have dominant effects on the time-averaged velocity magnitudes around the net meshes. Secondly, the considerable flow interactions amongst the transverse and longitudinal net meshes, as well as cross-flow effects, are observed but weakened with the inclination angles. Thirdly, the profiles of velocity decelerations behind the net panels for 0∘–45∘ are not as trivial as those for 45∘–90∘. The associations between the embedded mechanism of subjected loads and pressure fields are established to analyse the current loads on nets in small inclination angles. The inclination angles are finally elaborated into the area-averaged velocity reduction and screen force models, then the improved characteristics are validated against the experimental data.

Bycatch mitigation in the West Greenland lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus) fishery using modified gillnets.

Bycatch in gillnets is a global issue and mitigation measures that balance target species catch rates, bycatch reduction and fisher support are scarce. In the North Atlantic lumpfish fisheries, bycatch includes marine mammals and seabirds, and there are no permanent technical initiatives to reduce the bycatch. In the West Greenland fishery, common eider bycatch is several thousand individuals annually. We explored if bycatch in this fishery could be reduced by modifying standard lumpfish gillnets by adding a 45 cm high small-meshed net panel to the bottom part of the net. We tested the nets in combination with standard nets and estimated catch rates in a controlled setting in 2021 and in the commercial fishery in 2022. The modified nets had a 71% reduced bycatch rate for common eider and a 25% reduced catch rate for female lumpfish. A combination of the panel and increased seaweed entanglement was the most likely explanation for the effect. In addition to the effect of the net modification, the common eider bycatch decreased significantly during the season, and we recommend studying the net effect further and exploring the option of postponing the fishing season as a simpler way of reducing bycatch.

Prediction of wave force on netting under strong nonlinear wave action

Under the strong nonlinear wave environment, accurate simulation of wave force for aquaculture netting is an effective guarantee for cage design and safety. In this paper, the horizontal wave forces of a nylon square-mesh netting panel were obtained through a series of strong nonlinear regular wave tests, and their nonlinearity was analyzed by amplitude spectrum. Moreover, the Morison equation based on fifth-order Stokes wave theory was used to reasonably predict the wave force on the netting. The results showed that both wave and wave force have strong nonlinearity, especially the latter. The frequency domain characteristics of the test wave and wave force are similar, while the higher frequency components of the test force are more apparent. The predicted wave forces are in good agreement with the test values in time and frequency domain, and zero or higher frequency components of predicted force are more prominent with the increase of wave steepness. When the range of the Keulegan-Carpenter number is 35-120, the average drag and inertia coefficient of the predicted force are 2.4 and 2.1, respectively. The results can provide a more accurate assessment of the nonlinear wave force on aquaculture facilities.

Guarding net effects on landings and discards in Mediterranean trammel net fishery: Case analysis of Egadi Islands Marine Protected Area (Central Mediterranean Sea, Italy)

Discards remain among the main negative impacts of fishing activities, and their reductions are strengthened by the European Common Fisheries Policy (European Regulation 1380/2013). Trammel net fisheries appear more sustainable compared with other fishing techniques, especially from an ecological viewpoint. Despite this, reports show that trammel net fisheries deliver discard quantities between 10% and 43% of the total catch biomass. To supplement existing information, this current work attempts to address the discard reduction using guarding net in the small-scale fisheries of Egadi Islands MPA (Western Sicily, Central Mediterranean Sea). To assess the reduction of unwanted catches, 48 experimental fishing trials were conducted within a 6-month period. The experimental fishing trial employed a trammel net made up of 20 panels alternated with two different net configurations. The control panels (CN) held a large outer (180 mm) and small inner (31.25 mm) meshes. The test panels (GN) with guarding net constituted a three-mesh-high (50-mm mesh size) net placed between trammel net panels and a lead line. A total of 3,310 individuals belonging to 106 taxa and nine phyla were caught. Crustaceans were the most abundant unwanted catches in the control panels, whereas bioconstructions occurred in the guarding net panels. The discard ratios of CN and GN panels were statistically different (t-value = –2.55; p< 0.05). The analysis of catch per unit effort showed higher catches of CN panels for both commercial and discard fractions (p< 0.05). Moreover, the guarding net panels caught the main discarded species at 20% lower compared with the control. The overall value of the catch at the CN panels (€ 3,366.90) was higher than the total income (€ 2,043.70) generated using the GN panels, which suggests a significant commercial loss of 40% (p< 0.05).

A new method to estimate the resistance coefficients of net panels modeled as porous media

Modeling net panels as thin porous media is an effective approach to carry out computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of fishing nets and aquaculture cages. Existing methods to estimate the resistance coefficients for these porous media are based on simplified analytical models that relate these coefficients to the drag and lift coefficients of the panel. We propose a new method that uses a CFD model of the flow through a layer of porous media to estimate the resistance coefficients from regression analysis with experimental data. To increase the computational performance, the CFD model response is pre-calculated and interpolated in the regression analysis. The proposed method is applied to different net panels compared with existing methods. Results show that it provides better results than previous methods. Estimating both the inertial and the viscous resistance coefficients always provides better results than estimating just the inertial coefficients and it does not complicate the regression analysis with the proposed method. The method is easy to implement, fast and it could be used to estimate the resistance coefficients of materials other than net panels, since it does not make any assumption about the geometric characteristics of the actual material.

Experimental Analysis of the Influence of Gear Design and Catch Weight on the Fluid–Structure Interaction of a Flexible Codend Structure Used in Trawl Fisheries

This study evaluated the behavior of different codend designs to provide the basic information that is relevant for improving the gear selectivity, energy efficiency, to better understand the fish behavior inside the codend, and prevent the probability of the fish escaping. Three different codends were designed from the standard codend commonly used in the Antarctic krill fisheries based on modified Tauti’s law and evaluated. The first and the third codends were designed with four-panel and two-panel nettings, respectively, both made of diamond meshes. While, the second one was a four-panel diamond mesh design with cutting ratio 4:1(N [NBNBN]16). We measured the drag force, codend shape, fluttering codend motions, and the flow field inside and behind the different codends composed of different catch weights under various flow velocities in flume tank. The power spectra density was undertaken to analyze the time evolution of measured parameters. The results showed that the drag force and the codend motion increased and decreased, respectively, with the number of net panels and the cutting ratio. Due to the catch weight and flow velocity, which caused significant codend motions and deformation, a complex interaction occurred between the fluid and the structure, and there was a strong correlation between the codend drag, the codend motions, and the turbulent flow inside and behind the codend. The study showed that the use of the four-panel codend with cutting ratio and the two-panel codend resulted in drag reductions of 6.07% and 6.41%, respectively, compared to the standard codend. The velocity reduction and turbulent kinetic energy were lower inside and behind the four-panel codend than inside and behind the two-panel codend, indicating that turbulent flow through the two-panel codend is more important than through the four-panel codend. The results of the power spectral density analysis showed that the drag and codend motions were mainly low frequency in all codends, with another component related to turbulent flow street. In addition, the two-panel codend showed more unstable behavior with more pendulum motion compared to the four-panel codends, resulting in a smaller mesh size in this codend that could affect swimming energy and thus influence fish escape, making it the least selective codend. The results of this study provide fundamental insights useful for understanding and improving the hydrodynamic performance and selectivity of trawls in the Antarctic krill fishery, especially to reveal the masking effects of the number of net panels on codend design.

Salmon farm biofouling and potential health impacts to fish from stinging cnidarians

Biofouling growth on finfish aquaculture farms restricts water exchange, adds weight and drag to farm structures, and may provide an onsite reservoir for pathogens. Biofouling assemblages often include an abundance of cnidarian taxa, which possess harpoon-like stinging cells and associated toxins. Understanding and managing biofouling risks to farm productivity is important, including the impact of frequent cleaning events on fish health. This study quantified spatio-temporal dynamics of biofouling recruitment to experimental net panels on farms in central New Zealand and associated stinging potential from commonly observed anemones. A total of 22 different taxa were recorded, including five cnidarians. Average biofouling biomass reached ∼2 kg per m2, and net occlusion peaked at ∼46%, after eight weeks of immersion. The average length of nematocysts in three prevalent anemones (Diadumene neozelanica, Anthothoe albocincta, and Bunodeopsis sp.) was greater than the mean skin thickness of farmed salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). There was no minimum size of anemone that did not have nematocysts, so a higher frequency of net cleaning to prevent anemones from reaching a critical size threshold is unlikely to improve fish health outcomes. Our results can inform optimal cleaning strategies to manage inevitable biofouling management trade-offs and increase farmers' understanding of the risks to stock from drag, occlusion, stinging, and diseases associated with intact biofouling versus disturbance and exposure to cleaning debris.

Experimental investigations on hydrodynamic interactions between the cylinder and nets of a typical offshore aquacultural structure in steady current

A series of physical experiments were performed in steady current to investigate the hydrodynamic interactions between the cylinder and nets which constitute a main part of offshore aquacultural platforms. The hydrodynamic characteristics of only the cylinder, only nets and combined cylinder-net structures are measured and analyzed systematically under different current velocities, inflow angles and solidity ratios of nets. Based on experimental data, fitted formulas for hydrodynamic coefficients of a single resin net are proposed and compared to previously published empirical formulas. It is observed that the existence of the cylinder brings an increment up to 9.2% to drag coefficient of net panels whose solidity ratios are higher than 0.347, whereas this effect is negligible for nets with lower solidity ratios and perpendicular to the inflow. For nets inclined with 45°, the increment of the drag coefficient of net panels due to the existence of the cylinder is more significant (up to 22.9%) than that for perpendicularly placed nets. Furthermore, the existence of nets also leads to a noticeable increase in the drag coefficient of the cylinder, up to 40.18% for a relatively large net solidity ratio of 0.458, representative of biofouling condition. The increment increases with the rise of the solidity ratio of nets and it is larger for nets placed perpendicularly to the inflow than inclined. Effects of the cylinder and nets on lift coefficients of each other are a bit complicated, leading to an increase or reduction of lift coefficients depending on the inflow velocity, inflow angle and net solidity ratios. Finally, it is worth noting that the hydrodynamic interaction between the cylinder and nets deserves to be considered in current practice of hybrid methods by combining potential flow theory, Morison and screen models for aquacultural structures, especially for biofouling conditions.

Wave diffraction of a hybrid wind turbine foundation with a double-layer aquaculture cage

A hybrid wind turbine foundation combined with a double-layer offshore net cage for marine aquaculture is proposed in this paper. To study the diffraction and hydrodynamic loads on the structure for waves with small steepness, a numerical model was established using linear potential theory and solved using the eigenfunction expansion method. A porosity parameter was introduced to describe the hydrodynamic characteristics of the net panels. The model was validated based on existing numerical results and experimental data. An empirical formula was derived to calculate the porosity parameter based on the opening ratios of the nets. The wavefield and wave force were calculated and analyzed by setting different porosity parameters, spacings between the exterior net and interior net, radius ratios of the exterior net to the wind turbine tower and thicknesses of the friction wheel. Noticeable differences in the wave elevation were observed between the upstream and downstream sides of the nets. At downstream sites, the wavefield exhibits different profiles, particularly for structures with low porosities. Sloshing modes were observed that impacted the force and wave elevation at certain frequencies. For the common fishing nets with large porosities, the spacing between the nets does not have a significant impact on the wavefield and wave force acting on the structure. Moreover, the radius and thickness of the friction wheel have a non-negligible influence on the force acting on the structure, which also narrows the intervals between adjacent sloshing frequencies. In summary, this study provides a perspective for the engineering design and hydrodynamic analysis of a hybrid wind turbine foundation with a double-layer aquaculture cage.

Dynamic responses of a novel floating tapered trash blocking net system due to wave-current combination

To ensure the safe operation of coastal power plants in nearshore regions, an innovative tapered net system has been widely applied to block the floating bio-fouling and debris. Exposed to the combination of coastal waves and currents, these flexible nets are prone to significant deformation and excessive drawing force, which arises high risk of the system failure. To explore the hydrodynamic performance of the tapered fouling interception system, large-scale model tests have been conducted in wave-current flume under various pure current and wave-current combined conditions. Specifically, a dual-scale similarity is applied in the tapered net model to overcome the dilemma of Reynolds Similarity in Froude scaling tests. The results show that the existence of wave action leads to significant dynamic loading on the connector between the supporting frame and tapered nets, subsequently provoking frequent slack-taut on the connector. This nonlinear characteristics of the drawing force is easier to be triggered by the increased wave height and the enlarged current velocity. Whereas for the effect of wave period, the changing law deviates from the previous studies for a net panel, which demonstrates the importance of the overall shape consideration in the hydrodynamic study of the novel tapered trash blocking system.

The Jelly-FAD: A paradigm shift in the design of biodegradable Fish Aggregating Devices

Fishers and scientists in the tropical Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans are jointly designing biodegradable fish aggregating devices (bio-FADs) that are efficient for fishing. The tactic followed by most fishers to construct bio-FADs is to maintain the same conventional drifting FAD (dFAD) design (i.e., large, submerged net panels hanging from a floating raft) but replacing plastic ropes and netting with organic ropes and canvases. Results from these experiences show that the lifetime of bio-FADs made with conventional FAD designs is notably shorter than what fishers require, thus precluding their adoption. The short lifespan of these bio-FADs is due to the inefficient design of conventional dFADs, which results in major structural stress. Thus, to successfully replace plastic with organic materials and increase the lifespan of bio-FADs, a paradigm shift is needed. Bio-FAD structures should be re-designed to minimize structural stress in the water. The present study summarizes what we have learned from testing bio-FADs in the three tropical oceans, and it proposes a new concept in dFAD design, the jelly-FAD. Mirroring jellyfish, this new dFAD design will aim for quasi-neutral buoyancy, which should reduce (i) the structural stress of the FAD at sea and (ii) the need for additional plastic flotation. The jelly-FAD is not necessarily a fixed design; it is more of a change in the concept of conventional dFAD construction. Preliminary results show that jelly-FADs aggregate tuna as well as conventional FADs do, with lifespans greater than 6 months at sea. In addition, the jelly-FAD showed average drifting speeds similar to a conventional dFAD. To accelerate the adoption of bio-FADs worldwide, recommendations for jelly-FAD construction and tests are provided.

A catch limitation device to avoid excessive catches in the blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou) Northeast Atlantic pelagic trawl fishery

Blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou) is harvested in the Northeast Atlantic by a multinational fleet of pelagic trawlers. Occasionally, vessels take catches which exceed their remaining holding capacity and in extreme cases large catches cause codends to burst, resulting in spill of catch. To control catch quantity, a catch limitation system was developed and tested. The system consists of three components: 1) escape opening(s) in front of the codend to release excess fish, 2) a fish lock to prevent loss of fish through the escape opening(s) during haulback and at the surface, and 3) a choking unit to match codend capacity to the desired size of catch. Blue whiting escaped through both longitudinal slots and large (≥ 2 m) meshes in front of the codend. However, video observations showed that with large meshes in the upper panel, large amounts of blue whiting escaped long before the codend was full. Therefore, a design with large openings in the bottom was combined with longitudinal slots in the side and top panels. Two fish locks were tested: an oblique netting panel designed to seal off the codend when vessel speed reduce during haulback, and a cylinder of netting with a choking rope that closed it after the codend was filled. Both fish lock designs inhibited release of fish during haulback and at the surface, but the attachment of the constricting rope in the cylinder frequently broke. The choking unit consisted of a depth triggered releaser connected to a strap of rope wrapped around the codend. Mechanical releasers with factory-set depth trigger and electronic versions were tested. Both freed the choke point as intended, but occasionally at unpredictable depth. A reliable relationship (r2 = 0.94) was attained between codend choking position and catch amount, demonstrating that codend capacity could be adjusted to achieve target catch quantities. Our work shows that controlling catch quantity in the blue whiting pelagic trawl fishery can be achieved effectively through relatively simple modifications to the codend section Future work is needed to optimize the fish lock design and ensure the codend choking rope releasers trigger reliably and at the proper depth.