The impacts of FAD use on non-target species

The authors participated in the Global FAD Science Symposium, March 20‐23, 2017, in Santa Monica, California and are presented without affiliation. This paper is one of several from the Symposium and does not represent an exhaustive discussion of the issue but includes points agreed by participants. The participants recognized that impacts of FADs and FAD management cannot be considered entirely independently of harvest strategies, issues related to fishing capacity, ecosystem structure, or management of all other fishing gears in tropical tuna fisheries. None of these points alone will address the management challenges associated with FAD use. The effectiveness of any of these points will depend on the levels of implementation and compliance and need to be connected to processes at the RFMOs. Participants underlined the need for data harmonization, standardization, and availability and stressed the need to develop standardized language and definitions to support consistent interpretation of what conservation and management measures intend to achieve across ocean basins. Participants noted that “best practices” are not necessarily “most practical” and will need to be assessed to determine which are most appropriate to apply in any particular management setting or geographic area. Finally, participants stressed the need for ongoing and close collaboration among scientists, managers, and industry in driving innovative solutions within and across RFMOs. The points presented here are not in an order of priority; priorities and solutions may change on a regional basis.