The purpose of the Thomas Drop Net Concept is to introduce a new method of catching pure schools of surface feeding fish with the ability to select only those schools of targeted species which are of desirable size. The method involves a helicopter deployed drop net which is lowered around a selected school of targeted species, pursed, and left floating. When the seiner arrives, they place a transfer sack under and around the net, transferring the school to the seiner. At that time, the drop net can be deployed again as targets of opportunity remain available. The goal of this project is to introduce to the commercial tuna fishing industry a new method of selective harvesting made possible by the newly developed Spectra Fiber, thusly keeping the U.S. tuna fleet on the cutting edge of technology. Our concept will prove to be the most efficient method of harvesting, with the end result being that the highest tonnage and highest quality tuna will be harvested on U.S. flag tuna boats utilizing the Thomas Drop Net Concept. Economically, the increased catch will result in shorter trips for the boats, along with higher income from higher quality fish. Commercial applications:Perfection of the Concept is anticipated to eliminate the waste of living marine resources. The Drop Nets may also be used in various other markets, including the herring roe fishery in SE Alaska, sea farming throughout the world, and in the Pacific Island nations who lack capital to invest in large fishing vessels.
