They comprise more than 60 species of fish and shellfish. Unlike other types of seafood, they are available fresh from the ocean to the retailer at nearly all times of the year unless weather or management measures constrain their availalability. The difference between the two is the types of nets used. Trawl nets appear like large funnels that are towed by the boat.
Draggers fish most often with nets that ride along the ocean bottom.
The other trawl gear used by draggers are mid-water nets, which can be towed at various depths between the surface and the bottom. It's no wonder that the trawl industry is vital to the economy of Oregon's coastal communities. Oregon trawlers spend no more than five days at sea so that they can bring their catch to you as fresh as it can be. By comparison, trawlers in other parts of the United States can spend as much as two weeks on the ocean before coming in to port. The Oregon Trawl Commission is made up of the people who fish and process trawl products.