Fuel consumption in fisheries is a primary concern due to environmental effects and costs to fishermen. Much research has been carried out to reduce the fuel consumption related to fishing operations. The fuel consumption of fishing gear in fishing operation is generally related to hydrodynamic resistance on the gear. This research is to propose a low drag generated midwater trawl in terms of the gear design improvement using simulations. The results from the simulation were verified with results that mirrored the model experiments. From the results, the resistance force of the proposed gear decreased to 29% compared to that of the current gear. Furthermore, the gear performance also improved with increased gear mouth compared to the current one. Therefore, the proposed gear will be helpful to reduce the greenhouse gases from fishing operation. It will also contribute to the fishing industry by saving fuel.

In this study, numerical method was used to assess technical properties and improve the Vietnamese tuna purse seine. Thedata were extracted from the two national level projects. The study results showed that average lead-line sinking speed reached 0.139 m/s and 0.143 m/s and maximum sinking depth was 61.6 m and 65.8 m for The gears 2003 and 2014 respectively. The maximum tension on ring line of The gear 2003 was 4,742 kgf and 2014 was 4,219 kgf. The improved tuna purse seines I, III and IV showed similar sinking speed results with 0.220 m/s, 0.219 m/s and 0.219 m/s respectively. The average lead-line sinking speed of the improved gear II was lowest with 0.215 m/s. The maximum lead-line sinking depth of the four improved gears I, II, III and IV were 116 m, 112 m, 115 m and 114.9 m respectively. Maximum tension on ring line of the improved gears I, II, III and IV were 5,657 kgf, 5,406 kgf, 5,645 kgf and 5,654 kgf respectively. The improved tuna purse seine IV is the most suitable for Vietnamese tuna purse seine fishery, Which corresponds with tuna purse seiner scale and its fishing supporting equipment at the present.