A novel FAD tracking device tested in the Pacific Ocean (WCPFC SC19 version)

The objective of this project was to conduct field tests using NAOS beacons, designed at CLS, to track drifting Fishing Aggregating Devices (dFADs) under real fishing conditions. A total of 20 NAOS beacons were deployed and tested for a period of one year, from October 2021 to October 2022, in the Pacific Ocean, in collaboration with the Atunera Dularra fleet.The project focused on evaluating the usability, transmission quality, durability, and autonomy of the NAOS beacons. The results indicated that both the NAOS beacons and fishers' tracking buoys provided similar trajectory information. Fishers successfully monitored and tracked the dFADs for an average of 4.5 months, after which the dFADs were either stolen or drifted out of the fishing grounds. An interesting finding was that the NAOS beacon continued to track the trajectory of the dFAD even when it changed ownership (i.e., when the buoy was replaced), for a maximum duration of 11 months. This demonstrates the capability of the NAOS beacon to persistently monitor dFADs, even in the hands of different owners.To enhance the effectiveness of these beacons and gain a better understanding of the technical and logistical requirements for tracking drifting FADs, it is recommended to conduct further tests with a larger number of FADs. These additional tests would provide valuable insights and contribute to the overall improvement of these tracking beacons.