FAD Research in the Maldives

The biodiversity of the pelagic ecosystem have been little studied. Part of the reason has been that they these ecosystems are difficult to observe and costly to mount research surveys. So far information on biodiversity of the pelagic ecosystem has mainly come from fisheries sampling;  the species being caught on fishing gear.

Fish aggregating devices (FADs) are common feature in the tuna fisheries throughout the world. Whether drifting or anchored, FADs attract a variety of pelagic fishes which have been used to as means to increasing catch rates. Because they attract large number of fish species they can be used as a platform for observing these aggregations in the open ocean.

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Research on these aggregations is helping scientists to understand the ecological functions of these aggregations Maldives probably has the largest number of anchored FADs specifically deployed to support local fishery. Making use of these platforms as a means for studying biodiversity and that nature of the aggregations around them are important for developing and managing the fisheries resources.

Marine Research Centreis collaborating with French scientists at Institut de Recherche pour le Developpement IRD) to study these aggregations.  The BIOPS project (Biodiversit des milieux plagiques marins de la Ocean Indien - Marine Biodiversity of Indian Ocean Pelagic Ecosystems) project is funded by Institut Francais De La Biodiversite (FRB) and implemented by the IRD. The collaborators include, Seychelles, Mauritius, Madagacar, Mayotte, and La Reunion. The objective of this three year project is to:

  1. To define biodiversity indices pertinent to characterize the pelagic diversity using different sources of data
  2. To determine the spatial and temporal variations of these indices
  3. To provide the current status of the pelagic diversity in the Indian Ocean
  4. To propose efficient measures to monitor the pelagic diversity in the region

The project kick-off me

eting was held in Albion Fisheries Research Centre, Mauritius, from 28 – 30 April where key personal of the collaborating institutes met and discussed the protocols for visual census around FADs. The group further discussed on analysis of the historical longline data for temporal changes in biodiversity.

For more information please contact: Mr. Ahmed Riyaz Jauharee (BIOPS coordinator at MRC)