A measured offshore trawl upgrade case showing improved catch output, quality rate, and reduced maintenance cost after switching to PE multifilament trawl nets.
This case documents an offshore squid trawl net upgrade carried out in the Yellow Sea fishing area near Rongcheng. The project focused on replacing traditional nylon trawl nets with a PE multifilament trawl net system to improve catch efficiency, product quality, and long-term operating cost for a mid-to-large horsepower fishing vessel.
The vessel involved is an offshore trawler operating within the 400–1200 HP range, primarily targeting squid under stable towing conditions. Prior to the upgrade, the operation faced common industry challenges, including short net service life in seawater, frequent maintenance, high drag resistance, and limited effective catch per voyage.
The upgraded solution adopted a PE multifilament trawl net with a four-panel diamond structure. The net mouth perimeter was expanded to 58 meters, increasing the effective fishing area by approximately 40%. High-strength 380D PE multifilament yarn with 216 strands was used to enhance tensile performance and resistance to seawater corrosion, extending the service life to around three years under normal operating conditions.
After deployment, measurable performance improvements were recorded. Single-voyage catch volume increased from approximately 4.1 tons to 8.3 tons, representing a 102% improvement. The proportion of high-quality squid rose from 65% to 94%, contributing to better market pricing. Due to reduced drag resistance, daily fuel consumption decreased by roughly 30% under comparable towing speeds.
From a cost perspective, annual net maintenance expenses were reduced from about 120,000 yuan to 70,000 yuan. Over a three-year operating cycle, total maintenance savings exceeded 140,000 yuan. In addition, the optimized mesh design improved selectivity and reduced juvenile bycatch, supporting more sustainable fishing practices.
This project demonstrates how PE multifilament trawl nets can deliver measurable gains in efficiency, cost control, and operational stability for offshore squid trawl operations in the Yellow Sea region.
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