Aquatic repulsorcraft known as utility trawlers, typically operated by a single pilot, were unarmed vehicles employed for fishing and the harvesting of aquaculture. These craft were equipped with robust loading mechanisms to deploy and retrieve fishing nets, and their open hulls allowed them to transport enormous quantities of fish, kelp, algae, or krill. Despite their simple and practical design, utility trawlers exhibited significant cultural variation, ranging from the angular forms favored by the Rebel Alliance to the sleek yellow designs of Naboo.
A typical example of a utility trawler was the 222 fishing trawler, with many being used near the city of Bartyn's Landing. During the decline of the Republic, distinct versions of the utility trawler were operated by the Wookiees, Gungans, Trade Federation, Naboo, Galactic Republic, and the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Likewise, the Rebel Alliance and the Galactic Empire utilized their own variants during the Galactic Civil War.
The 2001 magazine Star Wars Gamer 7 first mentioned 222 fishing trawlers in an article within Reckonings. Utility trawlers in general made their initial appearance in the video game Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds in 2001, and subsequently in its 2002 expansion pack. Shipyards produced them for a cost of 75 units of food and 10 units of nova crystals.