Journal of Marine Science: Research & Development
Open Access

Fish tend to move around FADs in varying orbits, rather than enduring the stationary bottom of the buoys. Both the recreational and commercial fisheries used by the FADs. Before the FADs, commercial tuna fishing harbour used for the purse seining to target surface-visible aggregations of birds and dolphins, which were a reliable signal of the existence of tuna schools below. The demand for dolphin safe zone tuna was a driving force for FADs specifications. In the past, the people in the Pacific islands are used to bamboo rafts to make it easier to catch tuna that gathered below. Today, the FAD has made fishing much easier for the fisherman. Drifting FADs are not tethered to the bottom and can be manmade, or natural objects such as logs or driftwood.

FADs occupy a fixed location and attach to the sea bottom surface using a weight such as a concrete block place. A rope is made of floating synthetic materials such as polypropylene attaches to the mooring and in turn attaches to a buoy. The buoy can float at the surface (lasting 3-4 years) or lie subsurface to avoid detection and surface of the hazards such as weather and ship traffic areas. Subsurface FADs last longer with in the 5-6 years due to less wear and tear but it can be harder to locate areas. In some cases, the upper section of the rope is made up of metallic material from heavier than water metal chain so that if the buoy detaches from the rope, the rope sinks in water and thereby keep avoid by damage to passing ships who no longer use the buoy to avoid getting tangled in the rope. Smart FADs include sonar and GPS capabilities so that the operator can also work as remotely contact it via satellite to regulate the population under the FAD.

Some FADs are permanent structures while others are moveable in natural substance. The former is set mainly in deep waters levels and relocations are virtually impossible. Present experience shows that the expected the average life of a permanent FAD would be 2 to 3 years ranges. The mobile of the lighter structures can be moved to attract the fish to a particular point to catch it easily. Still others can be removed from the water levels during certain seasons when the fish are not in the area or when the weather is rough, e.g., monsoon. Two major categories of the FAD’s may be classified into two regions i.e., Artisanal, and Industrial types. Simple or advanced FADs are left for the drifting in deep waters to help an offshore area, artisanal, and industrial fleets catch big pelagic fish, mainly tuna.