drift net

noun

1. a fishing net supported upright in the water by floats attached along the upper edge and sinkers along the lower, so as to be carried with the current or tide.

drift net

noun

1. a large fishing net supported by floats or attached to a drifter that is allowed to drift with the tide or current

Word History and Origins

Origin of drift net¹

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

The EU is now proposing that countries adopt biodegradable drift nets.

From Seattle Times

In areas nearby, some fishers use illegal drift nets that drown dolphins as bycatch.

From Scientific American

In Somalia, he covered a devastating famine, in Singapore he reported on illegal drift net fishermen and in El Salvador he narrated stories of gang members.

From Washington Post

Nicknamed “walls of death” for the quantity of other sea life they catch in addition to the fish they are set for, drift nets were banned by the United Nations 30 years ago.

From Reuters

He also worked on negotiations to monitor the use of large, mesh drift nets by Japan’s fishing industry and improve air quality standards and reduce acid rain in Canada.

From Washington Post