Lessons learnt from the first large-scale biodegradable FAD research experiment to mitigate drifting FADs impacts on the ecosystem

Drifting Fish Aggregating Devices (dFADs) are currently made with synthetic and non-biodegradable materials contributing to the increase of marine litter other potential ecosystem impacts. Tuna RFMOs have promoted research progressive replacement existing FADs by non-entangling biodegradable (bioFADs). Here, we present results first large-scale FAD project in Indian Ocean develop implement use dFADs. The bioFAD tested were fully without netting minimizing completely risk entanglement. Tested bioFADs significantly contribute reduction plastic-based materials, reduce total material weight used FADs, reducing their overall testing 771 real fishing conditions, showed that performance regarding presence/absence tuna around dFADs, day detection, proportion occupied tuna, biomass aggregation underneath catch per set between conventional dFADs similar. This provides support for efficacy regardless degradation experienced tested. Although some lasted up one year, was important lost original structure after study period, suggesting need find alternative designs will suffer less structural stress than those but design. lessons learnt this trial refining future FADs.