Gill nets are widely used passive fishing nets that capture fish via their gills. They can be operated in various ways - set vertically in the water column, drifting in currents, or encircling an area. Gill nets are selective for certain species depending on mesh size and can be used to catch fish living in surface waters, midwaters, or along the bottom. While gill nets are effective at harvesting target species, they also result in accidental bycatch of non-target animals and can continue to capture fish if lost or abandoned, known as ghost fishing.