Learn · Fishing Methods

Fishing Methods: What They Mean for Your Seafood

How a fish is caught determines bycatch, habitat damage, and whether you can trace it to a boat. “Wild-caught” covers everything from one-hook artisanal fishing to industrial nets the size of football fields.

$2.1B/yr

Bering Sea pollock fleet revenue

The industrial mid-water trawl fishery behind most "wild-caught" fish products in the U.S.

141M lbs

Annual bycatch from pollock fleet

Halibut, crab, salmon, and other species caught and discarded by trawl vessels each year.

1995

SE Alaska trawl ban

After a single trawler caught the entire SE rockfish quota in one set, Alaska banned trawling in state waters statewide.

The Seven Methods

Each method produces “wild-caught” seafood. The differences in environmental impact and traceability are not marginal.

Mid-Water Trawl

Not Used by PCS

How It Works

A large funnel-shaped net is dragged through the open water column, well above the seafloor. The net opening can span the size of a football field. A vessel hauls continuously for hours before retrieving the catch.

At a Glance

Target SpeciesPollock, Pacific whiting, mackerel

Seafloor ImpactNone (mid-water)

BycatchModerate to High

ScaleIndustrial

Context

The Bering Sea pollock fleet — a $2.1B/year industry — is primarily mid-water trawl. This is the fishery behind Filet-O-Fish sandwiches, imitation crab, and most fish sticks. The fleet generates an estimated 141 million pounds of bycatch annually, including halibut, crab, and salmon that are hauled up and discarded.

Bottom Trawl

Not Used by PCS

How It Works

Heavy roller gear and net doors hold the net open while it drags across the seafloor. The gear flattens whatever it contacts — corals, sponges, structure. Everything on the bottom path gets swept up.

At a Glance

Target SpeciesPacific cod, flatfish, rockfish

Seafloor ImpactSevere — structural habitat destroyed

BycatchHigh

ScaleIndustrial

Context

In 1995, a single trawler fishing Southeast Alaska caught the entire SE rockfish quota in one set — forcing emergency closure of the fishery. The incident led to a statewide ban on trawling in Southeast Alaska state waters, one of the most significant fishery management decisions in Alaska history.

Longline

PCS Uses This

How It Works

A main groundline — sometimes miles long — is set at depth with baited hooks attached on branch lines called gangions. The gear soaks for hours before being retrieved. Depth, bait type, and hook design are tuned to target specific species.

At a Glance

Target SpeciesHalibut, sablefish (black cod), Pacific cod

Seafloor ImpactLow — gear settles but does not drag

BycatchLow to Moderate (configuration-dependent)

ScaleSmall to Mid-scale

Context

Longline is the dominant method for Alaska halibut and sablefish. Individual quota (IFQ) permits tie catches to named vessels and captains, making longline one of the most traceable commercial methods in U.S. waters. PCS sources halibut and sablefish from longline vessels.

Jig Fishing

PCS Uses This

How It Works

Weighted lures or baited hooks are dropped to depth and worked vertically — jigged — to attract fish. Modern vessels may run several electric jig machines simultaneously, but the method remains fundamentally artisanal: one hook, one fish.

At a Glance

Target SpeciesSalmon, Pacific cod, rockfish

Seafloor ImpactNone

BycatchVery Low

ScaleArtisanal to Small

Context

Jig fishing produces near-zero bycatch and the highest possible traceability — each fish is handled individually from hook to hold. The method is common in small-boat Alaska operations and is one of the few where a single captain can document every fish by date and location.

Pot / Trap

PCS Uses This

How It Works

Baited wire or metal cages are lowered to the seafloor, typically on weighted lines with surface buoys. Target species enter to take the bait and cannot exit. Pots are retrieved by hauling the line, usually after 12–48 hours.

At a Glance

Target SpeciesDungeness crab, king crab, spot shrimp, sablefish

Seafloor ImpactMinimal — pots sit but do not drag

BycatchVery Low

ScaleSmall

Context

Pot-caught sablefish has become increasingly popular as an alternative to longline. For crab and spot shrimp, pots are the only viable commercial method — and they allow undersized or non-target animals to be released alive. PCS sources spot shrimp and crab from pot fisheries.

Purse Seine

Not Used by PCS

How It Works

A long net is deployed around a school of fish in a circle, then a drawstring at the bottom is pulled tight — purse-style — to trap the entire school. The net is then drawn aboard and the catch brailed (scooped) into the hold.

At a Glance

Target SpeciesSalmon (primarily pink and sockeye), sardines, herring

Seafloor ImpactNone (mid-water)

BycatchLow to Moderate

ScaleIndustrial to Small

Context

Purse seine is the primary method for Bristol Bay sockeye salmon — one of the world's most sustainable fisheries by stock health. However, PCS focuses on hook-and-line and pot methods that offer individual fish traceability that seine fishing cannot provide.

Rod & Reel / Troll

PCS Uses This

How It Works

Trolling drags baited lines or lures behind a moving vessel, hooking fish one at a time. Rod-and-reel fishing is the sport-fishing equivalent. Both are labor-intensive and limited in volume — intentionally so.

At a Glance

Target SpeciesKing salmon, coho salmon, albacore tuna

Seafloor ImpactNone

BycatchEssentially Zero

ScaleArtisanal

Context

Troll-caught king salmon commands premium prices — and earns it. Each fish is hooked, bled immediately, and iced individually. The method preserves quality better than seine-caught fish and provides complete vessel-level traceability. All PCS king salmon is troll-caught.

Method Comparison

All of the below produce “wild-caught” seafood. The differences are not marginal.

Method	Target Species	Seafloor	Bycatch	Scale	PCS Uses
✕Bottom Trawl	Cod, flatfish	Severe	High	Industrial	No
✕Mid-Water Trawl	Pollock, whiting	None	Moderate–High	Industrial	No
✕Purse Seine	Salmon, sardines	None	Low–Moderate	Industrial–Small	No
✓Longline	Halibut, sablefish	Low	Low–Moderate	Small–Mid	Yes
✓Pot / Trap	Crab, shrimp, sablefish	Minimal	Very Low	Small	Yes
✓Jig	Salmon, cod	None	Very Low	Artisanal	Yes
✓Rod & Reel / Troll	King salmon, albacore	None	Essentially Zero	Artisanal	Yes

What to Ask at the Counter

“Wild-caught” tells you nothing about method. The single most useful question you can ask is: “How was it caught?” A fishmonger who can answer that question — vessel name, gear type, region — is sourcing from traceable supply chains.

One who can't is sourcing from commodity channels where that information was lost somewhere between the vessel and the dock. Both may label the fish identically.

The Bering Sea pollock fleet operates legally, is federally managed, and MSC-certified. It still generates 141 million pounds of bycatch annually. The certification tells you the stock is not currently at collapse risk. It does not tell you what else was caught alongside your fish.

Sustainability Certifications →What Is Traceability?Wild-Caught Explained