Editing Fishing (section)

==Fishing vessels==
[[File:Krabbenkutter Ivonne Pellworm P5242390jm.JPG|thumb|left|Commercial crab boat working in the [[Fishing in the North Sea|North Sea]]]]
[[File:Small sport fishing boat.jpg|thumb|right|Small [[sport fishing boat]]]]
{{see also|Fishing vessels|Traditional fishing boats}}

A fishing vessel is a boat or ship used to catch fish in the sea, or on a lake or river. Many different kinds of vessels are used in [[Commercial fishing|commercial]], [[Artisan fishing|artisanal]], and [[recreational fishing]].

According to the [[FAO]], in 2004 there were four million commercial fishing vessels.<ref name="FAO 2007">FAO 2007</ref> About 1.3 million of these are decked vessels with enclosed areas. Nearly all of these decked vessels are mechanised, and 40,000 of them are over 100 tons. At the other extreme, two-thirds (1.8 million) of the [[Deck (ship)|undecked]] boats are traditional craft of various types, powered only by sail and oars.<ref name="FAO 2007"/> These boats are used by [[artisan fishers]].

It is difficult to estimate how many [[Recreational boat fishing|recreational fishing boats]] there are, although the number is high. The term is fluid since some recreational boats may also be used for fishing from time to time. Unlike most commercial fishing vessels, recreational fishing boats are often not dedicated just to fishing. Just about anything that will stay afloat can be called a recreational fishing boat, so long as a [[Fisherman|fisher]] periodically climbs aboard with the intent to catch a fish. Fish are caught for recreational purposes from boats which range from [[dugout canoe]]s, [[float tube]]s, [[kayaks]], [[raft]]s, stand up paddleboards, [[pontoon boat]]s and small [[Dinghy|dinghies]] to [[Runabout (boat)|runabouts]], [[cabin cruiser]]s and cruising yachts to large, hi-tech and luxurious [[Big-game fishing|big game]] rigs.<ref>[[NOAA]]: [http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/speciesid/fish_page/fish51a.html Sport fishing boat] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170506051732/http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/speciesid/fish_page/fish51a.html |date=6 May 2017 }}</ref> Larger boats, purpose-built with recreational fishing in mind, usually have large, open [[Cockpit (sailing)|cockpits]] at the [[stern]], designed for convenient fishing.
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