A large part of the Dunbar Fishing Fleet is made up of creel boats.
Creel fishing is referred to as a ‘passive’ or ‘static’ form of fishing as the baited creels are dropped from the boat to the seabed where they soak until they are next retrieved by the vessel.
The main species targeted in Scotland are prawns, lobster and crabs. Different bait is used depending on what species is being targeted.
The lobster and crabs creel is generally made of round steel bar which is plastic coated and then covered with netting. Target species enter via small netted tunnels on either side of the creel.
Creel fishing takes place around Scotland’s coast and the boats that make up the inshore creel fishery are small – usually under 10 metres long- which means that engine size and weather dictate how far from shore, and how often they can fish. One or two people normally crew a creel boat.
The carbon footprint (in particular fuel consumption) is minimal compared to other methods of fishing as the majority of boats are small and fish relatively close to shore.