An integrated scheme for the management of drifting fish aggregating devices in tuna purse seine fisheries

Abstract

Drifting fish aggregating devices (dFADs) are extensively used in modern tuna purse seine fisheries. The use of dFADs has greatly improved fishing efficiency and generated substantial economic returns in purse seine fisheries, but adverse impacts on tuna juveniles, associated species and marine ecosystems are still of concern.Based on an analysis of current challenges in dFAD management measures in tuna regional fishery management organisations (t-RFMOs), we explored opportunities to strengthen dFAD management in tuna fisheries. An integrated dFAD management scheme with multiple tools that account for different usage stages of a dFAD needs to be organised to regulate, track, monitor and recover in tuna purse seine fisheries. We recommend that (1) dFAD-associated definitions should be standardised to provide operational guidance for dFAD activities; (2) all deployed dFADs should be counted towards dFAD limits on active dFADs, except those reported as lost and abandoned;(3) a regional dFAD tracking and monitoring program should track dFAD paths based on daily position reported to RFMOs directly, in addition to mandatory dFAD marking requirements; and (4) a framework of compensation mechanisms should provide financial support for joint dFAD recovery and eco-compensation. K E Y W O R D Scompensation mechanism, dFADs, management measures, marine ecosystem, tuna purse seine fisheries How to cite this article: Song, L. & Shen, H. ( 2023). An integrated scheme for the management of drifting fish aggregating devices in tuna purse seine fisheries. Fisheries

Is FAD fishing an economic trap? Effects of seasonal closures and other management measures on a purse‐seine tuna fleet

“…Some unintended effects occurred with an increasing number of silky sharks caught accidentally by PS vessels, particularly in the northern area of the IO where tuna vessels were not used to fish with fewer active FADs at sea (Tolotti et al., 2022). Because of important social costs related to bycatch, stranding, ocean pollution, etc., FADs are under scrutiny by RFMOs, and many experts around the world advocate for a more stringent limitation of their use (Fonteneau et al., 2015, Lennert‐Cody et al., 2018, Hanich et al., 2019, Gomez et al., 2020, Song & Shen, 2022).…”

“…Reviews of FAD management measures taken by RFMOs can be found in Davies et al. (2014), Song and Shen (2022) or Baidai et al. (2022).…”

“…In the IO, due to the pressure on yellowfin and bigeye tunas, IOTC also implemented time‐area closures for both longline and purse‐seine vessels for 1 month from November 2011 (IOTC Res. 10/1) until 2014 (Song & Shen, 2022). However, such resolution was not specific to FADs.…”

“…management plans were implemented in almost every ocean by RFMOs for a long time. Reviews of FAD management measures taken by RFMOs can be found inDavies et al (2014),Song and Shen (2022) or Baidai et al(2022). In the west-central Pacific Ocean, FAD closure periods have been adopted since 2009 in the Parties to Nauru Agreement (PNA) waters.…”

“…In the IO, due to the pressure on yellowfin and bigeye tunas, IOTC also implemented time-area closures for both longline and purse-seine vessels for 1 month from November 2011 (IOTC Res. 10/1) until 2014(Song & Shen, 2022).However, such resolution was not specific to FADs. An important change occurred in 2012, when IOTC first introduced a resolution requiring the elaboration of FAD management plans from the fleets (Res.…”