Featured Research
Jelly-FADs: Science Leads the Way on Improved FAD Design
ISSF is working to discover and promote best practices for an urgent change in fishing gear: the biodegradable fish aggregating device, or bio-FAD. Some of our most exciting work centers on “jelly-FADs”—bio-FADs designed in collaboration with a team of physical oceanographers.
Jelly-FADs are made of organic materials and are smaller than traditional models, yet they drift slowly, like jellyfish, so ocean currents are less likely to carry them too far afield. Both of those qualities will reduce their environmental impact if they are lost or abandoned.
An ISSF video offers a behind-the-scenes look at designing and testing jelly-FADs.
Featured Graphics
NEW! Map & Timeline of Biodegradable FAD Research
ISSF sponsors at-sea research to find the best non-entangling designs and natural materials for FADs that can biodegrade.
An updated map shows where new trials and deployments of biodegradable FADs are taking place around the world. It also indicates the tuna fishing gear types, fleets, and dates for each project.
An updated timeline shows ISSF research and other activities in 2009–2023 focused on brainstorming, designing, and testing biodegradable FADs for tuna fishers.
ICYMI
Reviewing Outcomes for Tuna Fisheries
As we look forward to another year of collaborative work at ISSF, we’re also looking back at last year’s notable results.
