FAD fishing markers.

FAD (fish aggregating devices) fishing is exponentially getting more and more common and the Caribbean is one of those places where a huge number of unregulated FADs have been set. We have no idea how many FADs there are but some estimates describe one thousand FADs set between Trinidad and Puerto Rico. The biggest users of FADs are the French island fisherment who spread them all over their waters and into the waters of nearby islands as well. Most people don't know anything about FADs or what fish concentrate around them, but there can be no doubt that they increase the catching rates for those who use them. I think that if more fish are concentrated around FADs and more catching is being done there then there are fewer fish everywhere else and fewer fish being caught away from the FADs. There are huge environmental implications and since there is no study or control of FAD fishing in the waters off Antigua and Barbuda, then i think there could possibly be huge environmental, social and economic impacts that are being unnoticed. While Marlin and Tuna stocks are dropping the catching rates for some fishermen who use FADs are remaining high. More info here: http://antiguaisland.blogspot.com/2011/02/complete-free-for-all-when-it-comes...

Category:

Education

Tags:

• FAD
• fish
• aggregating
• device
• fishing
• Antigua
• Barbuda
• Guadeloupe
• French
• environmental
• tuna
• pelagic
• marlin