Lastly, as FAD and free

school fishing require different knowledge and skill sets there is some suggestion that a skipper effect explains the difference between the fleet activities, with Spanish skippers appearing to have more developed FAD fishing skills [29] and [33]. Much of the concern surrounding FAD fishing stems from uncertainty around SB203580 chemical structure their ecological impacts. In order to quantitatively assess the impact of FADs and to consider potential management options, it is necessary to generate more data on how, where and why they are used. This urgent need for more data on the use of FADs in purse seine fisheries in all oceans was highlighted at the most recent joint meeting of the tRFMOs (Kobe III) in La Jolla 2011, with two types of information on FADs considered to be pertinent; an inventory and activity record of FADs (‘FAD logbook’) http://www.selleckchem.com/products/PF-2341066.html and a record of encounters with FADs by fishing and supply vessels (‘fishing logbook’). In recognition of this need for better data, IOTC has recently revised and improved its reporting

requirements for FADs under Resolution 10/02, which were previously considered ambiguous and insufficient to comprehensively record the practise of FAD fishing. These new and more detailed requirements include reporting the unique identifier, position, type and construction of the FAD fished on. The use of supply vessels, including the number of associated catcher vessels and number of days at sea, must also be reported. In addition, in 2012 IOTC adopted a entirely new resolution (Resolution 12/08; http://www.iotc.org/English/resolutions.php; accessed 1st June 2013) setting out the requirement for fleets to develop and submit FAD Management Plans by late 2013. This resolution, which again not only requires fishing companies to provide highly detailed information

Verteporfin mouse on their use of FADs but also apportions responsibility in managing their use, represents an important step towards regulating the practise of FAD fishing in the IOTC convention area, although it falls short of outlining any restrictions on their use. The European tuna purse seine fishing industry appears to have a proactive attitude towards developing management plans and generating additional data on the use of FADs. Since the mid-2000s French and Spanish fishing organisations and have been working in collaboration with their respective national scientific institutes (and independently with organisations such as the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation, ISSF) to improve the data available on FAD fishing and to also innovate FAD technologies.