A
fishing dredge, also known as a
scallop dredge or
oyster dredge, is a kind of
dredge which is towed along the bottom of the sea by a
fishing boat in order to collect a targeted edible bottom-dwelling species. The gear is used to fish for
scallops,
oysters and other species of
clams, crabs, and
sea cucumber. The dredge is then
winched up into the boat and emptied. Dredges are also used in connection with the work of the naturalist in
marine biology, notably on the
Challenger Expedition.