Global collaboration to advance sustainable management of echosounder buoys

Marine Instruments, Satlink, and Zunibal, the world's three leading manufacturers of smart buoys, have signed an agreement to promote more responsible and collaborative management of drifting fish aggregating devices (dFADs) in tropical tuna fisheries.

Echosounder buoys are smart devices connected via satellite and attached to dFADs to monitor their position and movement. Also, they detect the presence of fish beneath the device, helping to make fishing operations more efficient, selective, and sustainable.

There is now a need for more coordinated management approaches across the entire value chain, as these devices can drift outside fishing zones and are difficult to recover.

This initiative will focus on three key areas: early detection and prevention of stranding events; recovery and circularity to improve end-of-life management of buoys; and data collection to support operational decision-making.

The collaboration was formalised following a presentation at the Workshop on Drifting Fish Aggregating Devices of the Pacific Community (SPC) held in Papeete, French Polynesia. Governments, scientific institutions, and representatives of the fishing industry gathered to advance the responsible management of dFADs.

Regarding this, Patricia Ordóñez, Director of Science and Sustainability at Zunibal, said: "We are demonstrating that market leadership comes with shared responsibility. This statement aligns our efforts to help ensure that the technology driving today's catches also helps safeguard the fisheries of tomorrow."

Additionally, Jorge Pérez-Bouzada, Director of Sustainable Fisheries at Marine Instruments, noted: "This statement shows that leading buoy manufacturers can work together on key challenges such as traceability, recovery and circularity, contributing to the responsible management of drifting FADs and the long-term sustainability of tuna fisheries."

Finally, Director of the Science and Sustainability Department at Satlink, Kathryn Gavira O'Neill, emphasized: "For the first time, the three leading manufacturers of echosounder buoys are joining forces to take a step forward in the management of drifting FADs. Beyond providing technologies that enable more efficient and sustainable fishing operations, we are joining forces to support the long-term future of the tuna industry."