ISSF releases position statement to encourage more effective FAD management

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) published a position statement ahead of the 3-5 February Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) Special Session urging the IOTC to adopt conservation and management measures surrounding fish-aggregating devices (FADs).

ISSF is calling for greater effort in the Indian Ocean to monitor FAD use more effectively, while supporting the adoption of science-based FAD management. Marine debris caused by the devices and FADs ending up on the beach, shark and non-species bycatch, and other detrimental ecosystem impacts need to be reduced, ISSF said in a statement. 

The ISSF called on the IOTC to adopt several initiatives regarding FADs, including science-based limits on FAD deployment, requiring the use of biodegradeable materials in construction, developing marking guidelines for FADs, developing tracking guidelines, and more. 

"We need a concerted effort in the Indian Ocean to better monitor FAD usage and to support the adoption of science-based, FAD-related management measures," the ISSF said. 

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