Solomon Islands National Fish Aggregating Devices (FAD) Management Plan.

The Solomon Islands National Fish Aggregating Devices (FAD) Management Plan establishes a regulatory and operational framework to manage the use of FADs in tuna fisheries, recognizing both their importance in enhancing fishing efficiency and the risks they pose to sustainability. The plan highlights key concerns, including the overharvesting of juvenile tuna—particularly bigeye and yellowfin—impacts on non-target species, interference with natural fish behavior, and navigational hazards posed by anchored devices. It underscores the need to control the number and deployment of both anchored and drifting FADs, while promoting responsible fishing practices and minimizing ecosystem impacts. The plan also situates FAD management within broader fisheries governance, addressing interactions between domestic and foreign fleets and aligning with precautionary measures to protect local fishing interests. The overarching goal of the plan is to ensure the sustainable and responsible use of FADs in order to conserve tuna stocks and associated marine ecosystems while supporting the long-term viability of the Solomon Islands’ fisheries sector.