The Second International Workshop on Biodegradable Fish Aggregating Devices (bio-FADs) was organized by the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) in San Sebastián, Spain, in December 2025 as a follow-up to the first workshop in 2024. This report summarizes the main workshop presentations, discussions, and conclusions, with the goal of informing ongoing research, supporting fisheries management processes, and facilitating the transition toward more environmentally sustainable drifting FADs (dFADs) in tropical tuna fisheries.
The event brought together the fishing industry, tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organization (RFMO) representatives, and scientists from the three tropical oceans. Its primary objective was to review progress in biodegradable FAD development and adoption, and to assess fisher and manufacturer practical challenges in implementing these designs. Particular attention was given to lessons learned from recent at-sea trials, advances in biodegradable materials and biodegradable FAD design, and the operational performance of bio-FAD prototypes in different ocean regions.
Participants also aimed to identify remaining technical and operational barriers that may slow the transition toward fully biodegradable FADs, including issues related to material performance, durability, bio-based material certification standards, and large-scale implementation by fishing fleets.
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