Skimmer trawls are another common gear type used in Mississippi. Their gear design is different from otter trawls in that the nets are pushed, usually one on each side of the boat. The nets are supported by a tubular metal frame on three sides that skims over the bottom on a weighted skid, holding the net along the bottom with or without a ticker chain. Skimmers are usually used in shallower areas of 10 feet or less (Barnette 2001). While skimmers may have more potential to damage nursery habitats and submerged aquatic vegetation in shallower water, they are expected to impact the bottom less than otter trawls since there are no trawl doors (Barnette 2001, Nelson 1993, Steele 1993).
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