Editing Trawling (section)

{{Short description|Method of catching fish}}
{{Distinguish|Trolling (fishing)}}
[[File:Setting a trawl in Stephens Passage , Alaska.jpg|thumb|Setting a trawl]]'''Trawling''' is an industrial method of [[fishing]] that involves pulling a [[fishing net]] through the water behind one or more boats. The net used for trawling is called a '''trawl'''. This principle requires netting bags which are towed through water to catch different species of fishes or sometimes targeted species. Trawls are often called towed gear or dragged gear.

The boats that are used for trawling are called [[commercial trawler|trawlers]] or draggers. Trawlers vary in size from small open boats with as little as 30 [[horsepower|hp]] (22&nbsp;kW) engines to large [[factory ship#Factory stern trawler|factory trawlers]] with over 10,000&nbsp;hp (7.5 MW). Trawling can be carried out by one trawler or by two trawlers fishing cooperatively ([[pair trawling]]).

Trawling can be contrasted with [[Trolling_(fishing)|trolling]]. While trawling involves a net and is typically done for commercial usage, trolling instead involves a reel, rod and a bait or a lure and is typically done for recreational purposes. Trawling is also commonly used as a scientific sampling, or survey, method.