FADs Deployment underway in Seychelles and Tanzania

The SWIOFP Team from Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) has embarked on deploying Fish Aggregating Devises (FADs). Information reaching the National Monitoring Unit (NMU) in Mombasa, Kenya indicates that the deployment has been progressing successfully despite the initial hitches of obtaining the devices. Mr. Vincent Lucas, the Component 4 Coordinator from SFA confirmed that two FADs were deployed on 29^th November, two more the next day and additional two the day after.

In the region FAD's fishery are very well established in Comoros and Mauritius, and with the assistance of SWIOFP other countries have been offered with the opportunity to develop such fishery . For instance Seychelles has completed a crucial stage in the development and in Comoros they have incorporated it as lifestyle survival where they are surrounded by deep water all round. Although FAD fishery may be relatively new to the Seychelles fishers, they are already equipped with the necessary equipment and facilities (motorized vessels, suitable gears) for successful adaptation.
One of the research challenges that SWIOFP faced this year was the late delivery and deployment of the FADs. At the RMU in Kenya, the situation was exacerbated by the delay in prcuremnt of FADs and the long process of clearing through customs the FADs that arrived from manufacturer abroad. 

In Tanzania, deployment of these devices is currently at advance stages. The team led by Component 3 Coordinator fromm Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute (TAFIRI) , Dr. Barak Kuguru has already prepared most of the basic tools including the concrete blocks and selected the sites required for the exercise.

By November 30th, Dr.Kuguru and his team were awaiting the arrival of the FADs experts from Mauritius and Comoros to lead in the final assembling and deployment.

Article by : Dr.M.Osore, Contributors: Vincent Lucas and Dr.Baraka Kuguru

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