Non-Entangling & Biodegradable FADs Guide

ISSF’s Non-Entangling & Biodegradable FADs guide for tuna fishers, Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs), governments, and vessel owners shows research-based best practices in Fish Aggregating Device (FAD) design — both to avoid bycatch and reduce marine pollution.

Four tuna RFMOs already require fleets in their regions that fish with FADs to use only non-entangling designs. Some RFMOs additionally encourage fleets to build those FADs with biodegradable materials. The guide, first published in 2012 and revised in 2019 to include the biodegradable recommendation, is available in several languages.

Joint Letter to WCPFC (Nov. 27, 2017): Harvest Strategies, Non-entangling FADs, and Observer Coverage

Date Added: August 8, 2019
Downloaded: 175 times
RMFOs: WCPFC
Tags: Advocacy, Electronic Monitoring & Reporting, Harvest Control Rules, Harvest Strategies, Longline, Non-Entangling FADs, Observer Coverage, Tuna, WCPFC
Language: English
Featured: False
Report Type: Final

Description

This letter was submitted to the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Regional Fisheries Management Organization (RFMO) on November 27, 2017, by ISSF and several other organizations. The letter urges WCPFC to progress the development and adoption of Harvest Strategies, adopt a precautionary conservation measure for tropical tunas, adopt the use of non-entangling FAD designs and increase minimum observer coverage on longline vessels. 
 
The signatories included 26 NGOs and fishing industry organizations.