My experience aboard a LOBSTER FISHING GEAR

The lobster fishing season in Tunisia runs from March 15 to September 15, and it is primarily practiced in the north of the country. These species are the main economic resources for fisheries in the north, and the most well-known place where lobster fishing has been practiced from the beginning of time is the Bizerte fishing harbor, which accounts for nearly 80% of all catches.

My fishing trip took place from the 26th to the 30th of June. we sailed out of the harbor at around 4 PM at a speed of 8.2 Kn (1kn=1.852km/h) to reach the Banco di Skerki in the Mediterranean Sea's international waters, the Western Mediterranean (Subarea 37.1) according to FAO fishing zones., which is 38.5 M (1M=1.852km) away from the harbor in about 5 hr.

During this experience, I observed and participated in the fishing of Palinurus elephas, supervise lobster catches, and follow lobster fishing regulations. This allowed me to understand the procedure of lobster fishing employed by the Tunisian's fishing fleets:

First step: Releasing the Fishing net.

The lobster fishing net (gillnet) used by the fisherman is made up of four parts, as shown in the picture:

• Plastic floats for the detection of the net from both sides
• A mass attached to the rope after about 1.5 meters of rope from both sides
• A rope with a length of 100-150 meters, depending on the water depth on both sides.
• A fishing net with a mesh size of 70 mm and a length of 400 meters.

When the captain detects a type of marine rock bottom with the echo sounder in a depth between 90-150 m, he orders the fisherman to release the net and marks the location with GPS coordinates.

Second step: Holding back the fishing net.

After 2-4 days, the fisherman return to the location where the gillnet was released using GPS, they detect it by the plastic floats and catch it by hand using a kind of anchor, they begin to pull it back to the boat, and then they attach the rope to a pulling machine that assists in the gillnet's retirement.

Third step: Untrap lobsters from the gillnet.

When a lobster is spotted while pulling the net, the fisherman attaches it to an external rope and pulls it with the pulling machine to protect it from damage. It is then released manually in a very delicate manner to keep it alive and intact.

Fourth step: Cleaning the fishing net.

After retrieving the gillnet from the sea and releasing the lobsters caught, the fishermen begin to clean the net, as a lot of bycatch, particularly bottom rocks and seaweed, becomes stuck in the net, and the quickest way to get them out is to crack them with a wood hammer called (Matsoulla), after which two fishermen arrange the net to be reused.

Last step: Stocking lobsters and transportation.

When the lobsters are freed from the net, they are placed in a refrigerator with glass and a tissue beneath them, as well as a tissue to cover them. They can stay alive in this condition for about 3 days, after which they are transferred into a plastic box when the fishing gear returns to the harbor and taken to the market to be sold.

This was the first time I observed a fishing procedure in the middle of the sea where I remained for 4 days floating without any connection to the outside world and got to observe and gather information about this noble species. The fishing fleet caught 40 kg of lobster composed of 31 pieces during this trip and they were very respectful of the regulations. The fishermen were friendly and open with me about a variety of topics. I even conducted an interview with one of them, which I will share in the coming days.