The Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA), Sustainable Indian Ocean Tuna Initiative (SIOTI), and the Spanish Association of Tuna Freezers (AGAC) have joined forces to launch the innovative FAD Watch Project.
This collaborative effort aims to prevent and minimise the impact of drifting Fish Aggregating Devices (dFADs) on coral reefs, shallow water habitats, and coastal zones.
‘This initiative, together with biodegradable FADs research and MSC progressive certification, is an integral part of the European operators’ commitment to ensure sustainable fishing in the Indian Ocean region,’ said Anne-France Mattlet, director of Europêche Tuna Group.
All European tropical tuna purse seiners are part of this initiative. ANABAC and ORTHONGEL are members of the SIOTI alongside the Indian Ocean canning industry, and OPAGAC participates through AGAC.
The fleet’s vessels will provide the SFA with their dFAD satellite tracking data and online software. This critical information makes it possible to pinpoint the locations of dFADs entering the perimeters of eighteen islands, ensuring timely recovery before they affect marine ecosystems and allowing risk assessment of potential drifting zones.
The memorandum also includes deploying coastguard vessel Saya de Malha to recover drifting FADs and returning them to Mahé for disposal, reuse or recycling by agents of the SIOTI and AGAC fleets.
