{"id":725,"date":"2025-02-01T20:08:20","date_gmt":"2025-02-01T19:08:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fishterm.com\/blog\/?p=725"},"modified":"2025-02-01T20:08:20","modified_gmt":"2025-02-01T19:08:20","slug":"classification-of-major-types-of-fishing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fishterm.com\/blog\/classification-of-major-types-of-fishing\/","title":{"rendered":"Classification of Major Types of Fishing under 8 Popular Categories"},"content":{"rendered":"

CLASSIFICATION OF THE MAJOR TYPES OF FISHING UNDER 6 MAJOR CATEGORIES<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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Types of fishing<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you are here, it is probably because you intend to know about all the major types of fishing that exist. Based on intensive research, I have assembled all you need to know about types of fishing, and have presented these types, as well as the relationships, similarities and differences among them.<\/p>\n

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Below is a simple yet comprehensive classification of fishing using seven major criteria. If you intend to know more about the word fishing, read this page on fishing<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

This write-up is about types of fishing. <\/strong>Visit this link for types of fisheries<\/a>.<\/strong>If you are not clear about the differences between fishery and fishing.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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A. Major types of fishing across the world<\/span><\/h2>\n

We have prepared a list of about 16 major types of fishing, recognised internationally. They\u00a0are:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Inland fishing<\/li>\n
  2. Maritime\/marine fishing<\/li>\n
  3. Artisanal\/traditional\/subsistence fishing<\/li>\n
  4. Freshwater fishing<\/li>\n
  5. Brackish water fishing<\/li>\n
  6. fin fishing<\/li>\n
  7. Shellfishing<\/li>\n
  8. Small-scale fishing<\/li>\n
  9. Medium-scale fishing<\/li>\n
  10. Large-scale fishing<\/li>\n
  11. Semi-industrial fishing<\/li>\n
  12. Industrial fishing<\/li>\n
  13. Recreational fishing<\/li>\n
  14. Sport fishing<\/li>\n
  15. Subsistence fishing<\/li>\n
  16. Commercial fishing<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    B. Classification of fishing types<\/span><\/h2>\n

    Looking at the above listing, you may not easily see the relationship these fishing types have with each other. Let’s group them based on 6 criteria into 6 popular categories.<\/p>\n

    \u00a01. Classification of fishing based on profit-making<\/span>: Recreational fishing<\/em> vs <\/span>Subsistence fishing vs<\/span> Commercial fishing<\/em><\/h3>\n

    Recreational fishing:\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

    Recreational fishing involves capturing living aquatic resources (mainly fish) for sports and other non-profit reasons, such that it does not constitute the individual’s primary resource to meet basic nutritional needs. Fishes captured are not generally sold or otherwise traded on export. (source: FAO Recreational fishing. FAO Technical Guidelines for Responsible Fisheries. No. 13<\/a>). It is a non-commercial fishing activity exploiting aquatic living resources for recreation, leisure, exercise, competition tourism, entertainment, refreshment, relaxation, sport, etc<\/em>.<\/p>\n

    Sport fishing<\/b>\u00a0or\u00a0game fishing<\/b> is recreational fishing activities that focus mainly on the physical exertion and thrilling experience during the process of subduing a hard-fighting fish, which provides the fisherman with the excitement of a challenge (a good “sport” or “game”) and a satisfying sense of achievement<\/a> after successfully catching the target (Wikipedia (2024, October 8)).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    Subsistence fishing:<\/span><\/h4>\n

    Capture of living aquatic resources (mainly fish) for family consumption with only excesses sold. It is small-scale fishing using low-tech fishing techniques investing low effort, with the use of smaller manual gears such as surrounding nets, fish traps, cast nets, etc. Subsistence fishing is often classified under artisanal fishing, small-scale fishing, extensive fishing<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Commercial fishing:<\/span><\/h4>\n

    The main reason for this fishing is profit-making. This fishing type involves catching fish and other seafood and resources from oceans, rivers, and lakes to market them and make a living.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Table 1: Differences between Recreational fishing and Commercial fishing:<\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Comparison criteria<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nRecreational fishing <\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nSubsistence fishing<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nCommercial fishing <\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Intension<\/strong><\/td>\nleisure<\/td>\nFamily consumption. Only excesses are sold<\/td>\nmainly profit-making<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Investment scale<\/strong><\/td>\nsmaller<\/td>\nsmall<\/td>\nlarger<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Input effort<\/strong><\/td>\nLow-tech fishing techniques and low-effort<\/td>\nLow-tech fishing techniques and low-effort<\/td>\nHigh-tech fishing techniques with high fishing effort<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Gear type<\/strong><\/td>\ntypically smaller manual gears such as spear<\/span><\/span><\/span>guns, hooks and lines, spears, pots, harpoons,<\/em><\/td>\nsmaller manual gears such as surrounding nets, fish traps, cast nets, etc.<\/em><\/td>\ntypically larger gears and mechanised gears like purse seine, gillnets, trawls, lift nets,<\/em> etc.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Other Categories<\/strong><\/td>\nrecreational fishing is often classified under artisanal fishing, small-scale fishing, extensive fishing<\/strong><\/td>\nsubsistence fishing is often classified under artisanal fishing, small-scale fishing, extensive fishing<\/strong><\/td>\ncommercial fishing is often classified under industrial fishing, large-scale fishing, intensive fishing<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    2. Classification of fishing based on products obtained<\/span>: Fin fishing<\/em> vs<\/span> Shellfishing<\/em><\/h3>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Fin fishing:<\/span><\/h4>\n

    Fin fishing also known as finfish fishing<\/em> is the capture of ‘true’ fishes i.e. fishes with fins like tilapia, carp, sardines, etc.<\/p>\n

    Shellfish fishing<\/span>:<\/h4>\n

    Shellfishing is a part of non-fin fishing that deals with capturing shelled organisms other than true fish. Shellfishes of interest in this type include prawns, crabs, lobsters, mussels, oysters, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Table 2: Comparing Shellfishing with <\/strong>Finfish fishing<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Comparison criteria<\/strong><\/em><\/td>\nShellfishing<\/strong><\/td>\nFinfish fishing<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Organism’s covering<\/span><\/td>\nshell<\/td>\nfin<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Salinity of environment<\/span><\/td>\nmostly practised in marine environments<\/td>\npractised in both marine, brackish and freshwater environments<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Resource examples<\/span><\/td>\nprawns, crabs, lobsters, mussels, oysters<\/td>\ntilapia, carp, kanga, etc.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Other names<\/span><\/td>\nshellfisheries<\/td>\nfin fishing<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

     <\/p>\n

    3. Classification of fishing based on water salinity<\/span>: Freshwater fishing<\/em> vs<\/span> Brackish water fishing<\/em> vs<\/span> Marine fishing<\/em><\/h3>\n

    Freshwater fishing:<\/span><\/h4>\n

    Freshwater fishing is the capture of fish that spend some or all of their lives in freshwater, such as rivers and lakes, with a salinity of less than 1.05%.\u00a0 Examples of freshwater fish species are Carp, Catfish, Trout, Salmon, Perch, and Sunfish.<\/em><\/p>\n

    Brackish water fishing<\/span>:<\/h4>\n

    Brackish water fishing, also known as estuarine fishing<\/em> is fishing practiced in a mixture of fresh and salty water which usually occurs in estuaries and has a salinity usually of between 15 and 30 per thousand.\u00a0 Examples of freshwater fish species are\u00a0Dragon Goby \u00b7 <\/span>Crab-Eating Frog \u00b7 Archer Fish \u00b7\u00a0 Mudskipper \u00b7<\/span>American Alligator<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Marine\/maritime fishing<\/span>:<\/h4>\n

    Marine or maritime fishing is fishing dealing with fish living in saline environments like oceans, seas, etc. Marine fishing species include Atlantic Bonito \u00b7 Atlantic Menhaden<\/span> \u00b7 Atlantic Croaker\u00a0 \u00b7 Atlantic Spadefish.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Table 3: Difference between Freshwater, Brackish and Marine <\/strong>fishing<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Comparison criteria<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/td>\nFreshwater\u00a0fishing<\/strong><\/td>\nBrackish fishing<\/strong><\/td>\n Marine fishing<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Salinity range<\/span><\/td>\nsalinity value of\u00a0less than 0.5 ppt<\/td>\nsalinity anywhere between 0.5 ppt and \u00a035 ppt<\/td>\ntypically 35 ppt but ranges between 33-37 grams per litre (33ppt – 37ppt)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Environment<\/span><\/td>\nmostly practised in freshwater environments<\/td>\npracticed in estuarine environments<\/td>\nmostly practised in marine environments<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Resource examples<\/span><\/td>\ntilapia, carp, kanga, etc.<\/span><\/td>\nDragon Goby \u00b7 Crab-Eating Frog \u00b7 Archer Fish \u00b7\u00a0 Mudskipper including some species of prawns, crabs, lobsters, mussels, oysters<\/td>\nprawns, crabs, lobsters, mussels, oysters<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Synonyms and spelling variants<\/span><\/td>\nFresh water fishing, fresh-water fishing<\/td>\nestuarine fishing, brackish fishing<\/td>\nmaritime fishing<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

     <\/p>\n

    4. Classification of fishing based on location<\/span>: Inland fishing<\/em> vs<\/span> Marine\/Maritime\u00a0fishing<\/em><\/h3>\n

    Inland fishing:<\/span><\/h4>\n

    Inland fishing is any activity conducted to extract aquatic organisms (fish, crustaceans, and others)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>from inland waters (e.g. lakes, rivers, brooks, etc.)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Maritime fishing<\/span>:<\/h4>\n

    Unlike inland fishing, maritime fishing is the capture of fish living in saline environments like oceans, seas, etc. Marine fishing species include Atlantic Bonito \u00b7 Atlantic Menhaden.<\/p>\n

    Table 4: Comparing the difference between Inland and Marine <\/strong>fishing<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Comparison criteria<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/td>\nInland fishing<\/strong><\/td>\n Marine fishing<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Salinity range<\/span><\/td>\nsalinity value of less than 35 ppt<\/td>\nsalinity is typically greater than 33 ppt<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Environment<\/span><\/td>\nmostly practiced in freshwater<\/span> and estuarine<\/span> environments<\/td>\nmostly practiced in marine<\/span> environments<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Resource examples<\/span><\/td>\ntilapia, carp, kanga, etc.<\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0Atlantic Croaker\u00a0 \u00b7 Atlantic Spadefish and many marine prawns, crabs, lobsters, mussels, and oysters<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Other names<\/span><\/td>\n–<\/td>\nmaritime fishing<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    Read more on the differences between inland and marine fishing<\/a>.<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    5. Classification of fishing based on scale<\/span>: Small-scale fishing<\/em> vs<\/span> Medium-scale fishing\u00a0<\/em>vs\u00a0<\/span>Large-scale fishing<\/em><\/h3>\n

    Small-scale fishing:<\/span><\/h4>\n

    These fishing are characterised by low capital investment, high labour activities often family or community-based, no vessel or small-size vessels. Some sub-groups of fishing that are considered synonymous with small-scale fishing include subsistence fishing and traditional fishing.<\/p>\n

    Medium-scale fishing<\/span>:<\/h4>\n

    It is a type of fishing undertaken by powered boats and with small or medium-sized capital. Medium-sized fishing is in between small and large-scale fishing.<\/p>\n

    Large-scale fishing:<\/span><\/h4>\n

    This fishing type is typically mechanized, using advanced technology, high capital investment, heavy gear, and large-sized vessels.<\/p>\n

    Table 5: Difference between Small-scale, Medium-scale and Large-scale <\/strong>fishing<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Comparison criteria<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/td>\nSmall-scale fishing<\/strong><\/td>\nMedium-scale fishing<\/strong><\/td>\n Large-scale fishing<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Input\u00a0 and output scale<\/span><\/td>\nsmall<\/td>\nmedium<\/td>\nlarge<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Technology level<\/span><\/td>\nlow<\/td>\nmedium<\/td>\nhigh<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Capital investment<\/span><\/td>\nlow<\/td>\nmedium<\/td>\nhigh<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    6. Classification of fishing based on technology<\/span>: Artisanal fishing<\/em> vs<\/span> Semi-industrial fishing <\/em>vs\u00a0<\/span>Industrial fishing<\/em><\/h3>\n

    Artisanal fishing:<\/span><\/h4>\n

    Artisanal fishing (or traditional\/subsistence fishing) consists of various small-scale, low-technology, low-capital, fishing practices undertaken by individual fishermen or their families.<\/p>\n

    Semi-industrial fishing:<\/span><\/h4>\n

    It is a type of fishing undertaken by powered boats and with small or medium-sized capital. Medium-sized fishing is in between small and large-scale fishing.<\/p>\n

    Industrial fishing:<\/span><\/h4>\n

    This fishing type is typically mechanized and uses advanced technology, high capital investment, heavy gear, and large-sized vessels.<\/p>\n

    Table 6: Difference between Artisanal, Semi-industrial and Industrial fishing<\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Comparison criteria<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/td>\nArtisanal fishing<\/strong><\/td>\nSemi-industrial fishing<\/strong><\/td>\nIndustrial fishing<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Input\u00a0 and output scale<\/span><\/td>\nsmall manual input<\/td>\nmedium<\/td>\nlarge labour and energy input, and high output<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Labour source<\/span><\/td>\nsingle persons or their families<\/td>\ncommunity-based labour<\/td>\ntrained employees<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Technology level<\/span><\/td>\nlow<\/td>\nmedium<\/td>\nhigh<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Gears used<\/span><\/td>\nmanual gears like kooks, lines, pots, cast nets, etc.<\/td>\nsmall motorised gears like small engine vessels with gears like trawls.<\/td>\nlarge motorised gears like large engine vessels, trawlers, shrimpers, etc.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Capital investment<\/span><\/td>\nlow<\/td>\nmedium<\/td>\nhigh<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Conclusion<\/span><\/h2>\n

    We just provided a list of major fishing types. Less popular or minor types have been elaborated in their corresponding posts. For instance, fishing like onshore fishing and offshore fishing have been expounded under our post on marine fishing.<\/p>\n

    For more information about fishing, visit our Fisheries Terminology Dictionary portal<\/a>. If you have any questions, or any other fishing type not mentioned in our classification above, kindly drop them in the comment section.<\/p>\n

    Sources:<\/h3>\n

    \u00a0Wikipedia (2024, October 8)<\/strong>. Recreational fishing. Retrieved on 29 January 2025 from\u00a0https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Recreational_fishing<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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