dFADs: Fisher’s Friend or Foe?

All IOTC members are given the option to object to resolutions they disagree with, even when these are based on the best available data. This mechanism is important for ensuring a spirit of cross-border collaboration and fairness, but in practice it results in political will being privileged over scientific evidence.

A fact sheet that provides information on the severe effects of drifting fish aggregating devices (dFADs) on the South West Indian Ocean's yellowfin tuna populations and issues a joint plea to IOTC member states to curb the use of dFADs to give yellowfin and other juvenile tunas the opportunity to spawn and so start rebuilding tuna stocks.