Abstract

Current use of moored Fish Aggregating Devices (FAD) presents the twofold drawback of encouraging the catching of juvenile fish and of blue marlin (Makaira nigricans) for which the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) recommends a reduction in catches. To attempt to find solutions to these problems, a description of FAD fishing in Martinique was carried out via surveys during 2004 and 2005 A comparison of the catches was performed according to the location of the FAD and the time of fishing. The variation in the fishing compared to assessments made between 1998 and 2003 is also described. Analysing these data shows that over a few years yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) has become the main species caught around FAD (50%). This species, along with blue marlin, accounts for 85% of landings. However, the number of blackfin tuna (Thunnus atlanticus) caught does not seem to have progressed, whereas this species makes up the majority of the biomass aggregating around these devices. Given the current state of knowledge about this species, it would seem that FAD near the coast are necessary in order to favour the fishing of adult blackfin tuna, whereas for yellowfin tuna, the best yields are obtained with devices further from the coast

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