Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Fisheries and for a world without hunger Aquaculture Department Fishing Gear Types Surrounding Nets Without Purse Lines Lampara net ISSCFG code: 01.2 – standard abbreviation: LA Characteristics Overview The lampara net is a surrounding net, shaped like a dust pan or a spoon (the leadline is much shorter than the floatline) with two lateral wings and a central bunt with small meshes to retain the catch. Handling Equipment A small capstan and a fish derrick are usually all the special equipment required; the hauling, at the same time, of the two wings is, in general, done by hands with several crew members. The fish is removed from the net with small seines or by means of a scoop net. Vessel Overview The vessels are, in general, relatively small and simple: 9 to 18 meters in lengthwith a 50 to 150 HP engine with a clear working deck. The size of the crew is, in general, rather high (necessary manpower for hauling the net after the fish was surrounded). Fish Operation The net is mostly used with a single vessel, like a boat seine operated by a single vessel. Once the shoal of fish has been surrounded, the two wings are hauled up at the same time. Target Species Pelagic fish. Water Area Overview Lampara nets are mainly operated in the Mediterranean, in the USA and South Africa especially for sardines, in Argentina for anchoveta and mackerels or in Japan, not only for sardines, but also for seabream and flying fish; sometimes in inland waters. Gear Environment The gear can only be used to catch fish close to the water surface. Impacts Species The principal impact produced by this category of nets may be occasional bycatch/discards (undersize specimens, no marketable specimens, non target species, etc.), in particular when the lampara is used in association with aggregating devices (FAD). FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department.