FADs & FAD Management
Since ISSF's founding, fish aggregating devices (FADs) have been a major research topic. FAD fishing catches about 40% of tuna worldwide, and certain FAD structures can trap sharks and other marine animals, impacting bycatch rates in tuna fisheries, and pollute the ocean when they are lost or discarded. To help make FAD fishing more sustainable, ISSF examines and addresses the issue from scientific, RFMO policymaking, and industry perspectives.
ISSF provides
non-entangling FAD guidesfor fishers in 10 languages.
Our Model
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KNOWLEDGE SHARING
Biodegradable FAD (bFAD)DESIGN WORKSHOP for fishers and marine scientists, and related at-sea projects ongoing in 3 oceans
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ADVOCACY
Multi-stakeholder advocacy from broad coalition of NGOs, retailers, vessels, and processing companies, including nearly 1,000 LETTERS to RFMO delegates from ISSF participating companies
3There are three ISSF Conservation Measures regarding FADs, including requirements for non-entangling FADs and skippers workshop participation.
Strategic Goals
RFMOs comprehensively manage FADs
Findings from bFAD pilot projects and reports incorporated in RFMO FAD design and management
All RFMOs require biodegradable FADs
Embracing a Better FAD
As sustainable fishing approaches, like using non-entangling FADs, become more familiar, fishers in ISSF skippers workshops express a growing acceptance of them over time.
