Report of Project 110: Non-entangling and biodegradable FAD trial in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean

Citation
Escalle L, Moreno G, Hamer P (2021) Report of Project 110: Non-entangling and biodegradable FAD trial in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean. In: WCPFC Scientific Committee 17th Regular Session. WCPFC-SC17-2021/EB-IP-03, Electronic Meeting
Abstract

WCPFC Project 110 will conduct trials of non-entangling and biodegradable drifting Fish Aggregation Devices (dFADs) in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO). It will provide essential information to the tuna fishing industry on the designs, types of materials, performance and cost-effectiveness of non-entangling and biodegradable dFADs in the WCPO context, and support industry to increase uptake of more ecologically sustainable dFAD designs.

The aims of the project are the following:
1. Design/refine cost-feasible, non-entangling and biodegradable dFADs; informed by previous trials in the WCPO and other oceans, fostering industry and national fishery agency input, and utilizing readily available (locally or shipped) suitable construction materials.
2. Undertake at-sea experiments to compare the performance of non-entangling and biodegradable dFADs to traditional dFADs.
3. Provide robust scientific advice to industry and national fisheries managers on the performance of non-entangling and biodegradable dFAD designs.
4. Increase regional support, capacity building and partnerships on dFAD research with various stakeholders in the WCPO.

The project was initially planned to start in March 2021. However, the design of the non-entangling and biodegradable dFADs and the trials at-sea could not start in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as none of the fishing companies contacted could commit to starting such activities this year, but some have showed interest in joining the project at a more suitable time.

The project will include four stages: i) information and planning workshops, identifying dFAD construction locations, detailing design of at-sea trials, and initiating capacity building in design and construction; ii) constructing the experimental dFADs; iii) conducting at-sea trials and broader industry communications program; and iv) data analysis, reporting, final workshop and industry adoption plan. Some activities within stage 1 have already started or will start in coming months. These include the literature review and online consultations with other researchers on dFAD designs to develop the potential designs, materials and summarise previous work. Some additional research on available materials (origin, type, price, logistics) and potential dFAD construction locations will also be performed. Some work on the communication and engagement strategy, including with the purse seine sector, communities, managers and fisheries departments, will start in 2021, which will include the development of dedicated forms for data collection by skippers and observers.