Fish Aggregating Devices could enhance the effectiveness of blue water MPAs

Abstract

In the past two decades, drifting fish aggregation devices (FADs) have revolutionised pelagic fisheries, and are now responsible for the majority of tuna purse seine catches. Here, we argue that by taking advantage of the same proven aggregative properties, FADs could be used to enhance the benefits provided by blue water Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Using models of commercially-targeted fish populations, we explore the potential benefits that could be achieved if unfished conservation FADs were positioned within blue water MPAs. Our results suggest that conservation FADs could deliver benefits, both to target species and the broader ecosystem. By increasing the residence time of exploited species, conservation FADs will reduce average mortality rates inside MPAs. By increasing the local density of species whose populations are depressed by exploitation, FADs can also improve the function of ecosystems in blue water MPAs. Conservation FADs could therefore amplify the benefits of blue water MPAs. We find this amplification is largest in those contexts where blue water MPAs have attracted the most criticism - when their area is small compared to both the open ocean and the distribution of fish stocks that move through them.