What's the Catch? How FADs are Decimating Marine Ecosystems

What's the Catch? How FADs are Decimating Marine Ecosystems

A recent report from the PEW Charitable Trusts finds that the exploitation of drifting fish aggregating devices (FADs) to catch tuna is on the rise, with FAD development more than doubled since 2006 in the Pacific Ocean alone. From 2011 to 2013, the estimated number of FADs deployed worldwide grew from 105,000 to as many as 121,000 -- a 14 percent increase in only two years.

As the number of drifting FADs continues to rise at an alarming rate, the PEW report finds that the few existing management measures for FADs "are generally ineffective and fail to limit the overall number or use of these devices." The report further finds that "the lack of regulation threatens ocean ecosystems, undermines sustainable fisheries efforts, and jeopardizes the livelihoods ad well-being of fishermen." Our main takeaway is this:unregulated drifting FADs are not a sustainable method for catching tuna.

Additionally, while much of the world's tuna that receives a "dolphin-safe" label is harvested around FADs, there is no proof that these FADs do not catch or harm dolphins beyond the word of the ship's operator. Considering the lack of regulation surrounding FADs and their tendency to trap and kill any marine life in their path, it is highly likely that a growing number of dolphins are in fact injured and killed by FADs each year -- either unknown or unreported by ship operators.

ENDS

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