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The vast majority of commercial vessels load and
discharge their cargoes in the safety of ports;
their main function at sea is that of transport. A
fishing vessel, on the other hand, locates, hunts,
catches, loads (and sometimes discharges), as well
as processes and conserves its cargo at sea, all in
variable weather conditions. It is, in effect, a
place of work and is a very specialized vessel
which is intended to perform all these well defined
tasks. The size, deck layout, carrying capacity,
accommodation, machinery and equipment of fishing
vessels are all related to its function in carrying
out its planned operations.
Factors which influence the design of a fishing
vessel may be grouped under the following
headings:
- The species, location, abundance and
dispersion of the fish resources
- Fishing gear and methods
- Geographical and climatic characteristics of
the fishing area
- Seaworthiness of the vessel and safety of
the crew
- Handling, processing and stowage of
catch
- Availability of finance
- Availability of boatbuilding and fishing
skills
- Laws and regulations applicable to fishing
vessel design, construction and equipment
- Choice and availability of construction
materials
- Economic viability
Because of the inherent variations in each of
these 10 factors, the diversity of fishing vessels
designs operating around the world is enormous,
ranging from 2 metre dug out canoes to factory
trawlers exceeding 130 metres in length, with trip
durations ranging from a few hours to over a
year.
The size and autonomy of a fishing vessel is
largely determined by its ability to handle,
process and store fish in good condition on board,
and thus these two characteristics have been
greatly influenced by the introduction and
utilization of ice and refrigeration machinery.
Other technological developments - especially
hydraulic hauling machinery, fishfinding
electronics and synthetic twines - have also had a
major impact on the efficiency and profitability of
fishing vessels. In developing countries, fishing
operations have been greatly influenced by the
introduction and widespread use of the outboard
engine.
All these technological developments have not
only heavily influenced the design of fishing
vessels, but, particularly between 1950 - 1980,
resulted in increased productivity, profitability
and competition to the extent that many stocks
became fully or overexploited. This situation lead
to fisheries management measures which included
control of fishing effort, sometimes imposed
through length limits on fishing vessels. The
effect on fishing vessels was seen with designers
attempting to maximize the vessel's fishing
capacity while maintaining its length within
limits.
In 1995 the world fishing fleet numbered about
3.8 million vessels: about one-third were decked
while the remaining two-thirds were undecked
(generally less than 10 m in length). The average
size of decked vessels in 1995 was about 20 GT
(around 10 - 15 metres). Those larger than 100 GT
(or longer than 24 m) amounted to about 1 percent
of the world fishing fleet. China has approximately
40 percent (15 000) of these larger vessels, while
no other country has more than 10 percent of this
fleet and about 20 countries together account for
50 percent of the total.
Most of the world's fishing vessels operate in
Asia. The proportion of non-motorized vessels is
higher in Africa (about 80 percent) than in any
other continent, while Europe has the highest
proportion of decked vessels (about 70 percent in
1995). In the Asian fleet, slightly fewer than 40
percent are reported to be decked vessels.
Safety of the vessel and its crew are considered
a paramount design consideration. Despite this
fact, there is no international instrument in force
concerning the safety of fishing vessels.
International conventions and agreements awaiting
ratification which concern safety at sea are almost
exclusively aimed at vessels 24 metres in length
and over (which, in terms of numbers, constitute
only about 1% of all vessels in the world´s
fishing fleet), and therefore do not apply to
artisanal vessels and transport boats in the
developing countries. Safety regulations for all
fishing vessels are left almost entirely to
national discretion.
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