Driftnets are gillnets that are not anchored, but float with the sea current (with or without a boat). Target species are pelagic species, such as sardine, tuna and squid. Nets with up to kilometers of length often get called ‘the walls of death’, as all sorts of fish and other life (dolphins, turtles, birds and whales) can get entangled. The use of driftnets has been forbidden in European waters sinds 2002.
Driftnets do not have any impact on the seafloor. Although this method has a lot of bycatch, including threatened species through pieces of nets that have been cut (ghostfishing).