Evaluating the Impact of Fish Aggregating Devices (FADS) on Tunas in the Pacific Ocean

GRANT AWARDED: July 2012. Many pelagic fishes, turtles, and other marine species are attracted to floating objects in the open ocean, and fishermen have used artificial fish aggregating devices (FADs) to attract fish. In the past few decades, they have deployed thousands of sophisticated FADs with high tech tracking gear and fish finders to catch tuna and other species.

This project will examine the impact of FADs in the western and central Pacific on the movement, distribution, health, diet and reproductive potential of tunas. Based on the findings, the researchers will assess different management scenarios such as restricting FAD deployment and time/area fishing closures. This information will provide managers with relevant, actionable science that is directly informative to current tuna management challenges.