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Global impacts of drifting fish aggregating devices on marine protected areas
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Tuna fishing boats release thousands of floating devices (called dFADs) to attract fish, but these often drift into ocean protected areas where they can entangle wildlife, damage habitats, and leave plastic debris behind. This study found that over half of the world's marine protected areas have likely been affected by these devices, putting nearly 500 vulnerable species at risk — and as this plastic breaks down in the ocean, it can contribute to the microplastic pollution that's increasingly found in seafood we eat. The findings point to a need for stricter rules and more transparency from the fishing industry to protect these critical marine ecosystems
Protected areas are a critical component of efforts to reverse biodiversity loss by 2050. In the ocean, free-drifting fish aggregating devices (dFADs) are released in large numbers by industrial purse seine fishing companies to help catch tuna. These devices can enter marine protected areas (MPAs) undetected, potentially leading to wildlife entanglement, plastic pollution, and habitat degradation. Here we investigate processes by which dFADs may compromise MPA objectives and assess the burden they put on existing MPAs. By analyzing drift, strandings, and expert interview data, we show that dFADs have likely interacted with 53% of the global MPA network by area and stranded in 174 protected areas, which are home to at least 490 at-risk species. While recent improvements to dFAD design should reduce harm to wildlife, our findings suggest that improved regulation, transparency, and industry accountability are required to mitigate additional effects on MPAs, especially around documented hotspots in the central Pacific, western Indian Ocean, and Caribbean.
More Papers Like This
Drifting fish aggregating devices in the Indian ocean impacts, management, and policy implications
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Researchers assessed 63 drifting fish aggregating devices (floating structures used to attract tuna for easier fishing) recovered along Somali coastlines and found that none complied with international fishing regulations, highlighting widespread illegal and unregulated fishing practices in the Indian Ocean. Abandoned and non-compliant FADs contribute to ocean debris and ghost fishing, adding to marine plastic pollution.
Dispersal and Beaching Patterns of Drifting Fish Aggregating Devices (dFADs) as Marine Litter in the Northern of Gulf of Guinea
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Analysis of GPS tracking data from fish aggregating devices deployed in the Gulf of Guinea between 2008 and 2014 found the highest beaching rates in the northeastern gulf, driven by Guinea Current retroflection. The study identifies high-risk overlap zones between beached FADs and key fish spawning habitats, highlighting the ecological threat of this form of marine debris.
Simulating drifting fish aggregating device trajectories to identify potential interactions with endangered sea turtles
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This study used Lagrangian drift simulations to estimate connectivity between drifting fish aggregating device (dFAD) deployment areas and critical sea turtle habitats in the Pacific Ocean, finding that up to 60% of dFADs from equatorial deployment areas ultimately reach essential leatherback and hawksbill turtle habitats. The results identify specific Pacific regions at highest risk from dFAD interactions with endangered sea turtles and suggest that non-entangling, biodegradable dFAD designs could substantially reduce this threat.
Drifting Fish Aggregating Devices in the Indian Ocean: Impacts, Management, and Policy Implications
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Researchers examined the prevalence and governance implications of abandoned, lost, and discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) drifting fish aggregating devices (dFADs) along the Somali coast in the Indian Ocean. Over six months, 63 dFADs were recovered along a sample coastline — none fully compliant with Indian Ocean Tuna Commission regulations — with projections estimating approximately 1,439 dFADs wash ashore annually across the entire Somali shelf.
Biodegradable drifting fish aggregating devices: Current status and future prospects
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Researchers assessed the neurotoxic effects of polystyrene microplastics on the freshwater snail Lymnaea stagnalis, finding altered locomotor activity, disrupted chemosensory behavior, and changes in serotonin and dopamine signaling after waterborne exposure. The results suggest that microplastics can interfere with neurochemical pathways in freshwater invertebrates at environmentally realistic concentrations.
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