What are FADs?
Fish aggregating devices, or FADs, are artificial objects placed in the ocean to attract fish. Tuna and other fish gather around FADs, which makes it easier to find and catch them.
What are the benefits of artisanal FADs?
Artisanal FADs are used to improve the catch rate. In other words, FADs:
- facilitate access to offshore fish stocks (such as tuna stocks);
- help reduce fuel cost;
- provide a safer way to fish offshore; and
- contribute to food security and livelihood.
What do artisanal FADs look like?
Artisanal FADs are all anchored. They consist of:
- a surface marker;
- a flotation section;
- a mooring section; and
- an anchor section.
They are several FAD designs in the Pacific region.
This series of training videos demonstrate how to fabricate and deploy artisanal Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs).
For more information, see here.