Lighting Methods Employed in Harvest of Fishery Products: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Fishermen since time immemorial have employed various lighting methods aimed for favourable/successful harvest of fishery products. The latter on the other hand have evolved with habitat constituents for example, the waters, light and other external factors, which contribute to evolve the sensory adaptations. Whilst there is considerable literature about lighting approaches/methods employed in harvest of fishery products, no appraisal concerning the state-of-the-art to best of our knowledge has been performed. In this review, (some) relevant information about lighting methods employed in harvest of fishery products will be summarized under the following sub-headings: (a) Light as resource for fishing; (b) Eye of fish for vision and survival; (c) Catching the fish with light: experimental methods and instrumentation; (d) Light intensities that looks at: (i) attraction and reaction of fish; (ii) active escape of fish; (iii) induced stress of fish; as well as (e) Simulated trawls and conducted surveys. Some recommendations to direct future studies are also summarized.