流刺网是一种捕渔方法，主要用于捕捞回游性鱼类。流刺网使用一层或多层塑胶丝所织成的长方形网片，一般会将多张网片结合在一起，上缘系多个海绵塑胶所制的浮子，下端配附铅制沉子，垂直张开设于接近海平面附近的位置，等待鱼类游入而被网目缠住。因为会随海流移动，而且被缠住的鱼像刺一样挂在网上，故称「流刺网」。

流刺网的杀伤力很大，大型流刺网往往由大、中、小网目的三层网子所构成，不论是大鱼、小鱼都全部落网，会造成生态浩劫。因此各国陆续禁用流刺网捕鱼。

Gillnetting is a common fishing method used by commercial and artisanal fishermen of all the oceans and in some freshwater and estuary areas. “Gill nets are vertical panels of netting normally set in a straight line. Fish may be caught by gill nets in 3 ways : (1) wedged – held by the mesh around the body (2) gilled – held by mesh slipping behind the opercula, or (3) tangled – held by teeth, spines, maxillaries, or other protrusions without the body penetrating the mesh. Most often fish are gilled. A fish swims into a net and passes only part way through the mesh. When it struggles to free itself, the twine slips behind the gill cover and prevents escape.”