As recent studies have documented, the impacts of drifting fish aggregating devices (dFADs) on marine life around the world are alarming. These devices are not only ubiquitous but are primarily used in tuna fishing. They present significant entanglement dangers to countless species, in addition to accelerating marine plastic pollution. Tuna harvesters, especially in eastern Canada, regularly shy away from dFADs. Their potential use across the entire tropical region, particularly in the Pacific Ocean, poses some serious concerns over their ecological consequences.
The deployment of dFADs has increasingly become conventional practice in tuna fisheries, particularly in tropical waters. These comparatively small devices can easily be carried – or “drift” – over thousands of kilometers of open ocean, impacting more than 37% of the world’s ocean. The leafy carpets span an area the size of all the world’s populated continents put together. On a planetary scale, this represents a high risk of ecological collapse.
Environmental Hazards of dFADs
Innovative design dFADs are made from both natural and synthetic materials. Their intentional or accidental release into the ocean presents a host of environmental dangers. Indeed, derelict dFADs often end up on the beaches of more than 100 coastal nations. They are incredibly powerful drivers of marine pollution and degradation of local ecosystems. These devices can ensnare non-target marine species, including those that are endangered. This fits under the protection of endangered species which further complicates and emphasizes the fragile balance marine biodiversity exists in.
In addition, dFADs are already notorious for their harmful impacts on coral reefs. As they float with the current, they usually snag on the jagged edges of reef systems. This tangled mess can not only physically destroy corals, it negatively impacts the thousands of marine species that depend on healthy reefs to thrive. Ecological impacts spread well past the dFADs’ immediate surroundings.
Tuna Fishing Practices and Regional Variations
Recently, dFADs have been used extensively across the globe. Tuna harvesters in eastern Canada have largely failed to adopt these devices. This map illustrates the regional variance in fishing practices due to local regulations, species, and ecological considerations. The Pacific Ocean has experienced a dramatic rise in terms of dFAD deployment. Fishermen release these devices from boats, usually outfitted with global positioning system (GPS) transponders so they can be tracked.
Though these devices are very good at concentrating fish underneath them – especially tuna – there are increasing fears about their effects on fish stocks. Alarmingly, over 90% of certain tuna species captured with dFADs are juvenile, not yet matured. This opens up serious sustainability issues in terms of ongoing fishing practices and whether or not they are sustainable over time.
Future Regulations and Sustainability Efforts
In reaction to these concerns, regulators have started to act. The Indian Ocean Tuna Commission coming up big! Though by 2026, they will establish a dFAD registry requiring all devices used in its waters to be registered. This new initiative is intended to improve monitoring of dFADs, decrease the number of lost dFADs, and minimize their negative environmental effects.
As this regulatory framework develops, stakeholders all across the fishing industry will need to work in tandem. Fishermen, conservationists, and policymakers must work together to create a system of sustainable fishing practices. Protecting the natural wonder of dFADs is imperative for complex marine ecosystems. With strong management and the political will, we can ensure the protection of these fragile ecosystems and still responsibly harvest tuna.