This project is a pilot project which will focus on two sites in the South Pacific to build capacity for mitigating ALDFG in the region and better understand the scale, severity and approaches to addressing it in both a commercial and artisanal setting.

Part one of the project will explore, document and assess current practices around FAD management and determine a scope for management improvements with consideration to the FAOs Draft Guidelines on the Marking of Fishing Gear for gear marking.

Part two of the project will focus on trial the marking and tracking of nearshore FADs and introduce best practice fishing gear management, build capacity and prevent/mitigate the problem of ALDFG through their effective management.

Fish Aggregating Device (FAD) deployments have more than doubled since 2006 in the eastern Pacific Ocean to nearly 14,000 per year. Increased use of FADs has led to increased calls of concern and is driving an urgent need for improved management measures to ensure future sustainability of the fishery as fishing effort increases.

Gear marking of fish aggregating devices (FADs) is very important in this context and the trial will offer tangible recommendations on what technology works, what further preventative measures such as recycling programmes and better established port reception facilities would be beneficial and what can help Pacific communities long-term.

As Pacific Island governments are being urged to improve the supply of nutritious food by allocating more of their resources for local consumption and to invest in nearshore FADs there is an additional need to address the implications of FAD use at the commercial level to improve the supply of fish for small-scale fishers and improve food security.

The pilot project will be carried out across several Pacific countries and its findings will also feed into the FAO technical Consultation on the marking on Fishing Gear which will be held in February this year.