FAO/FIIT Fishing Gear Type Fact-Sheet Pole and lines [LHP] updated : 10-mai-2001 ISSCFG Classification : > Category : Pole and lines Profile General Description: A pole and line consists of a hooked line attached to a pole. This method is common to sport fisheries (angling) but it is also used in commercial fisheries. Fishing rods/poles are made of wood (including bamboo, also constructed of split cane) and increasingly of fiberglass. Specific Handling Equipment: Pole and lines may be hand operated or mechanized, e.g., for tuna catching, with the pole movement being entirely automatic. Fishing Vessels using this gear: Pole and lines can be operated either from the shore (sport fishing) or (for commercial or sport fishing) from any type of vessel, from the smallest ones. In industrial fisheries, the most common are " pole and line vessels" fishing fortuna. Thetuna pole and line vessels are units from15 to almost 40 meters in length with special arrangement for using as many poles as possible from the side of the boat and for keeping bait on board, in the best condition, if possible alive. Fishing Operations: Fish are attracted by the bait. In small-scale professional or sport fisheries the pole is swung so to reach the line, a moulinet has to be used when the line is much longer than the pole; the small fish is, then, taken from the hook by hand. On board tuna pole and lines vessels, the hooked fish/tuna are swung on board, by hands (by two to three fishermen if the tuna is very big) or with an automatic swinging system; the tuna normally release themselves from the barbless hook when they touch the deck of the vessel. Features Target Species: Pelagic, demersal and benthic species Areas: all The Gear and its Environment: Deployment Area: Pole and lines are operated in a very wide range of depths, either in inland and sea waters. For commercial fishing for large pelagic fish/tuna only fish swimming very close to the surface are caught. Impact on the Environment: In general, the use of this method has not potential negative impact.