IPNLF Standardizing FAD definitions between RFMOs

For many years IPNLF has been advocating for the robust and standardized definitions
required to enable the effective management of FADs. During the first meeting of the joint
t-RFMO FAD Working Group in 2017, IPNLF submitted a paper emphasizing this while
participants underlined the need to develop standardized language and definitions to
support consistent interpretation of what conservation and management measures intend
to achieve across ocean basins. During negotiations to ensure the sustainability of tuna
fisheries using fish aggregating devices (FADs), much time has been dedicated to achieving
an unambiguous definition for these devices and other terms relevant to their management
across tRFMOs globally. The IOTC will not be able to effectively manage FADs if they cannot
be clearly and explicitly defined, so we provide this paper to help streamline such
discussions, to explain concerns with some in place FAD definitions globally, and to propose
an effective definition for use by the IOTC.