What is a drifting FAD?

We hear a lot about them in the fishing industry… But what exactly is a drifting FAD? Let’s take a closer look.

Drifting FAD = Drifting Fish Aggregating Device

Behind this somewhat technical name is a device used by fishers to attract and temporarily concentrate fish around the same location. But there is an important point to keep in mind: a FAD does not produce fish.

As its name suggests, a drifting FAD is a device that floats and moves with ocean currents. It can be made up of different elements: a floating structure, visible at or near the surface, as well as submerged materials. The whole structure drifts with the currents and wind. It is therefore not anchored to the seabed.

Why do fish gather around a FAD?

Floating objects in the ocean can create a particular environment. They may, for example: provide shelter for certain species, ncourage the presence of small marine organisms, attract small fish, and in turn attract larger predators.

Gradually, a genuine marine community can form around the device.

“Aggregation” does not mean “creation”. This is an important distinction. A FAD does not create fish or make fish appear in an area where there were none. Rather, it creates a gathering point in the ocean. Imagine a tree in the middle of a vast open space: some animals will naturally come to it for shelter or to look for food. The principle is comparable, even though the functioning of a marine ecosystem is obviously much more complex.

Why do we call it a “drifting” FAD? Because it moves with the ocean. It is not anchored to a specific location. Its path depends in particular on: ocean currents, wind, ocean conditions.

A FAD can therefore travel great distances as it drifts.

Drifting FADs are notably used in purse seine tuna fishing. Fishers can track FADs and monitor their movements in order to identify areas where fish have gathered. When conditions are right, the school of fish associated with the FAD may be targeted by fishers.

The FAD therefore becomes a tool for locating concentrations of fish in a vast ocean. And now that you know what a drifting FAD is…

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