Some Reasons Why Fishermen Wash Their Nets

Some Reasons Why Fishermen Wash Their Nets

The activity of a fisherman, of course, is to catch fish. There are two ways that they do to catch fish, namely first by fishing but the results of the fish they get will be small. The second way is to use a net, which in this way fishermen will get a lot of fish.

The profession as a fisherman is a great job, and we who live in big cities should thank them. Because our fishermen can enjoy seafood such as salmon and mackerel.

Have you ever seen a fisherman wash their nets? And it occurred to you why the net is washed when it will be used again every day? Is washing nets important? Isn't the net always exposed to water so you don't have to worry about getting dirty?

If you are confused about the answer to this question, here we will explain some of the logical reasons fishermen wash their nets.

Garbage piled up in the Net

The first reason fishermen wash their nets is because there is a lot of garbage that sticks to them when they catch fish in the sea. Plastic waste is the most commonly found in the oceans. And this will also be carried into the net when fishermen catch fish. If left unchecked, the garbage will emit a foul odor in the net, which can also harm the fish caught in the net. That is the reason fishermen have to wash their nets regularly.

Fresh and healthy fish has a high price in the market. On the other hand, fish with poor quality are cheap and rarely people want to buy them. In order to keep the quality of fish fresh, the method of catching fish must be correct and the equipment for catching fish, namely nets, must always be clean and free from objects that can harm the health of the fish.

The fish caught by fishermen are divided into two categories, namely for food and some for maintenance. To meet the needs of people in these two categories, of course, the quality of fish must be prioritized. When a dirty net comes into contact with fish, the fish will experience a lack of oxygen levels. This will adversely affect the gills of fish caught in nets. Moreover, when the process of removing fish from the sea to fishing boats takes a long time, it can cause fish to be increasingly unhealthy because of gill disease caused by decreased oxygen levels, as well as bacteria from harmful waste on the health of fish meat.

Dangerous Organisms

Hydroids and anemones are some of the most common organisms capable of causing gill damage. These organisms can live in dirty nets. They have stinging cells that can cause fish to irritate the gills. Even fragments of these cells can cause problems for fish. That is the reason nets must always be clean and washed after fishing. Fish is categorized as fresh when checked for red gills and no bad smell. And fish like this are often used as menu dishes in restaurants. Therefore, fishermen will try to make the fish they get is of good quality and fresh, so that they can sell it at a high price to people.

The Best and Powerful Way to Clean Nets

Cleaning nets for those who don't know how to do it will definitely be difficult because of their large size, so it is necessary to use the right method so that the nets that are washed are clean and do not take long. It is recommended to wash the nets regularly once every two weeks. Because within 2 weeks the hydroid organisms have not completed their life cycle, and that means they will not be a problem for the net.

Some people clean their nets in rivers or in the sea. But it is recommended that in order to get maximum results you move the net to a location on land for cleaning. Because it is feared if washing the net on the beach or in the river the result is not really clean because of poor water exchange. By washing the net on land, you can also see the details of the condition of the net, so that the cleaning step is optimal.

Monitoring Gill Health

It has been said above that washing the nets is recommended once every 2 weeks. But it would be better if every time you catch fish using the net, check the condition of the gills. This is just to ensure that you are proactive in maintaining the quality of the fish caught. Because the cleanliness of the net is only one of many things that affect the health condition of fish.

Nets are not only used by fishermen to catch fish in the sea. But nets are also commonly used by fishermen for shrimp or lobster ponds. In the same way you have to clean the net to get rid of trash and prevent bacteria from living in a dirty net.

How to Clean Fishing Nets?

How to clean fishing nets is quite easy. You can start by filling a bathtub or large container with hot water. Next, you soak the net in hot water for ten to fifteen minutes. After this, you have to scrub the net using some kind of brush. Be careful not to tear the net and hurt your hands.

Next rinse the net while paying attention to each area of ​​the net to be clean. If it looks still dirty, then you have to repeat scrubbing. Try to keep the dirty rinse water flowing so that when you turn the net the dirt doesn't stick back.

Once everything looks clean, shake the net slightly to remove any excess water. Then you can put the net or hang it outside so that the water immediately drops. You can also use a clean cloth to speed up the drying process.

Finally, keep the cleanliness of every equipment used to catch fish so that the quality of the fish is maintained. Because it is feared that if one fish has bad gills due to organisms, it can spread to other fish. And this is certainly not what you want. Therefore, always pay attention to the cleanliness of the nets you usually use.