FAD symposium

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The Development of Fish Aggregate Device in the Cook Islands.
Ian Bertram and Sonny Tatuava
Ministry of Marine Resources
P.O. Box 85
Rarotonga
Cook Islands
Ph: (682) 28 730
Fax: (682) 29 721
email: rar@mmr.gov.ck
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Summary
Since 1980 a program of fish aggregation device (FAD) deployment has been carried
out in the Cook Islands. Government has deployed all FADs between 1 to 3 nautical
miles from shore at depths ranging from 800 to 1,600 meters. The FADs have
undergone various designs with varying degrees of success. The average FAD life-
span during the early 1980s was nine months; however, it increased to 18 months,
with some FADs in operation in excess of 30 months. Each FAD cost between
NZD7,000 and NZD9,000 to build and deploy.
Since their introduction, FADs have been widely accepted as a very effective
apparatus in coastal small-scale fishing activities, specifically for pelagic species.
Judging by the progressive behavior of local fishing communities, there is sufficient
reason to believe that FADs have created productive fishing zones for Cook Islands
fishers to enable them to supply the ever-increasing local market for fresh fish.
FADs are an integral part of local fishing communities, and provide a reasonable
form of income to the increasing fishing community.
Key–words: Fish aggregate device technology and development, data collection,
FAD social and economic impact, South Pacific, Cook Island.
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Background
The country
The Cook Islands comprises 15 islands that extend over 1,500 kilometers of ocean in
a north-south orientation. The country, located between 156° and 167° W longitude
and between 8° and 23° S latitude (central Polynesia), has a 200-mile economic zone
(EEZ) of 1,830,000 square kilometers. The 15 islands have a total land area of 237
square kilometers and fall naturally into the Northern and Southern groups (figure 1).
The islands of the Northern Group, as well as Aitutaki and Manuae in the Southern
Group, are typical coral atolls, generally enclosing a lagoon. The southern islands of
Mauke, Mitiaro, Mangaia and Atiu are volcanic with elevated encircling reef
platforms adjacent to the coast. These islands have soils which range from heavily
weathered and infertile soil in the older islands to the highly productive younger soils
of Rarotonga, which is a high volcanic island.
The Cook Islands climate is generally mild. In the Southern Group, temperatures
range from 16°C in August to 32°C during January with an annual average of 25°C.
In the northern atolls, temperature range from 20°C to 37°C, averaging 29°C.
Rainfall can vary considerably from year to year; however, it is normally around 200
centimeters per year. Winds are predominantly from the south-east quarter, with
average speeds varying from 13 km/hr in the Southern Group to 16 km/hr in the
Northern Group. The Cook Islands lies within the cyclone belt and during the
cyclone season (November to March) is subject to occasional tropical cyclones.
The Cook Islands is a self-governing state in association with New Zealand. The
country has a population of approximately 18,000; the majority reside on Rarotonga
(55%) and Aitutaki (13%) (Anon 1997). The Cook Islands cash economy is best
developed on Rarotonga, the capital and seat of government, and on Aitutaki, which
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is a popular tourist destination. The economy is primarily based on growing tourism,
offshore banking and black pearl industries.
Marine resources and fisheries
The fisheries sector is one of the nation’s major exploitable natural resources.
Marine resources are divided into aquaculture (primarily for black pearls), offshore
fisheries (tuna and tuna-like species), coastal reef associated fisheries, and offshore
minerals (magnesium). With the exception of the pearl industry on Manihiki,
development activities to date have experienced problems due to various constraints.
They include (1) the lack of investment capital, (2) limited entrepreneurial and
management skills, (3) the dispersed and isolated nature of the islands, and (4) lack
of infrastructure. Currently the capacity to commercially utilise these resources is
lacking. As a consequence the resources in the Cook Islands have yet to be fully
developed.
The production of black pearls from Manihiki and Penrhyn is one of the country’s
major industries and is ranked as the second largest export earner after tourism.
Black pearls (raw and processed) accounted for an average of 85 per cent of exports
from the marine sector over the last 10 years. Other export fisheries include
ornamental fishes, trochus and black-lip pearl shells. Within ecological safe limits,
efforts are being made towards the full commercial development of these fisheries.
The consumption of food derived from the sea ranges from 15 kg/person/year on
Rarotonga to 45 kg/person/year on Aitutaki and 100 kg/person/year on Penrhyn, with
an overall annual average per capita consumption of 47 kg. There are three main
areas fished in the Cook Islands the reefs, the near coast and offshore. Reef-
associated fisheries are predominantly utilised by Cook Islanders and remain largely
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subsistence in nature. Bottom-, troll-, spear- and gillnet-fishing, and gleaning and
scoop-netting of flying fish are common activities used to exploit both the near coast
and reef fisheries. In addition to subsistence harvesting, small-scale commercial
fishing occurs in the more populated southern islands, particularly on Rarotonga and
Aitutaki where urban population and tourism have created a strong demand for fresh
seafood. The establishment of fish aggregation devices (FADs) since 1980 has
resulted in the increased production of pelagic fish species including Katsuwonus
pelamis (skipjack tuna), Thunnus albacares (yellowfin tuna), Thunnus alalunga
(albacore), Thunnus obesus (bigeye tunas), Coryphaena hippurus (mahimahi),
Aanthocybium solandri (wahoo) and Makira spp (billfish).
The Cook Islands currently has a limited capacity to fish in oceanic waters. As a
consequence the Ministry of Marine Resources (government agency) has established
licensing agreements with distant water fishing nations in order to exploit the
country’s tuna resources. The country is, however, keen to establish a locally based,
small-scale (20-30 meter vessels) longline fishery, possibly through joint ventures
with foreign investors.
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FAD Program
History
In 1980 a program of FAD deployment was introduced to the Cook Islands. The
major objectives of the introduction were to improve productivity by reducing
scouting time and associated travelling costs, to improve the safety of small-scale
fishing operations, and to divert fishing effort from coastal species to pelagic fishes.
All FADs deployed by the government in the Cook Islands are anchored to the
seabed in positions intended to be accessible by small boat owners. At the
introduction of the FAD program in 1980 a total of seven and three boats regularly
fished for pelagic species on Rarotonga and Aitutaki respectively (Dashwood, J. and
Herman, T. pers. comm.). The fleet has steadily grown and in 1999 a total of 60 and
20 boats fish regularly on the respective islands. Fleet size on each of the remaining
islands, which have occasionally had FADs, range between 5 to 10 boats. The boats
are mostly wooden skiffs from 4.5 to 7 meters in length, powered by outboard
engines from 25 to 90 h.p.
These regular FAD-fishing vessels, most of which operate on a part-time basis,
utilise a variety of fishing methods, including trolling, vertical longline and drop-
stone fishing with the occasional episode of live bait-, night-, and pole-and-line
fishing. These methods are best described by Preston et al. (1987, 1999). Over the
last 15 years government and intergovernmental organisations have developed and
implemented training programs to improve fishing craft, gear and fish handling
techniques to ensure a reasonable supply of tuna and other pelagic species to the
local markets. However, the current demand still exceeds supply.
FAD technology and deployment
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Since the implementation of the FAD program, various designs have been used in the
Cook Islands with varying degrees of success. Initial float systems were constructed
from a number (1 to 3) of foam-filled plastic or steel (200 liter) drums lashed
together or welded in steel frames. This was followed by the use of aluminum
catamarans developed in Samoa. These designs were found to have bow and stern
responses to wind and current directions, therefore were subject to turning in either
anti-clockwise or clockwise directions. The outcome of these sudden movements
caused twisting in the main mooring line despite the presence of a substantial number
of swivels. These designs were latter replaced with steel spar buoys and more
recently with the Indian Ocean designs (refer to Gates et al. 1996).
Hardware components were made of galvanized steel with the occasional attachment
of anodes. Initially, three-strand polypropylene rope (22-mm) was used as the main
mooring with chain attached at the center of the mooring line to create a catenary
curve. The catenary curve was later improved with the use of nylon rope (19-mm) as
the upper portion of the mooring line. By 1998, eight-strand nylon and
polypropylene rope substituted the three-strand mooring line.
In total, approximately 70 FADs have been deployed on various islands in the Cook
Islands in depths ranging from 800 to 1,600 meters. During deployment the buoy is
released and the mooring line laid-out as the deployment vessel steams away from
the buoy. The anchor is released when the vessel reaches the intended FAD site.
Depending on sea conditions, the deployment vessel releases the mooring line either
in a circular, zigzag or hairpin configuration over the intended FAD site. FADs that
were unintentionally dropped in shallow water have had the mooring line shortened;
however, little can be done to those dropped in areas deeper than intended.
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The Cook Islands FAD program has provisions for monthly inspections and
maintenance. This involves diving using SCUBA equipment to allow visual
checking of the upper components and if necessary repair or replacement of worn
components; this has to be managed as best as possible, often under very dangerous
conditions. Common problems observed during inspections included worn hardware
components (normally after the FAD has been in place in excess of nine months) and
the mooring line fouled with fishing gear.
Through regular improvements, FAD longevity in the Cook Islands has improved
considerably; however, it is by no means perfect. Prior to 1985, average life
expectancy was within the order of nine months; this was later extended to an
average of 18 months primarily due to a regular maintenance program. Between
1990 and 1995 average longevity increased slightly; however, a number of FADs
were in place in excess of 30 months, with one FAD achieving 61 months.1 These
long-lasting FADs were steel spar buoys deployed in sites which had previously been
surveyed using echo-sounding and global positioning (GPS) equipment. In an effort
to improve the longevity of FADs, 200 meters of soft PVC tubing was added to
protect the upper portion of the mooring line, and the spar buoy was substituted with
the Indian Ocean raft. Despite site surveys and regular maintenance the loss rates
have been unacceptably high. The short lifespan is believed to be due to the lack of
pressure resistance in the buoy system.2 This could be improved by substituting a
number of purse seine floats with pressure floats capable of withstanding depths to
300meters.
1 This FAD initially had a steel spar buoy, which was replaced after 24 months due to heavy rust. The
second buoy was replaced after 28 months with the Indian Ocean design which lasted for a further 9
months.
2 The buoy system comprises 40-50 purse seine floats (each has a buoyancy of 7 kg) strung onto 30
meters of PVC-coated 16 mm galvanized wire rope. We suggest, if this system is going to be used, to
add 4-5 pressure floats (each having a buoyancy of 20 kg) capable of resisting 300 meter depths and
alternatively strung between purse seine floats.
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Apart from deployment errors and mechanical failures, FADs have been lost through
ship collisions, sabotage and cyclones. Ship collisions have occurred in the past due
to inadequate markings and little consideration given by the deployment agency to
local shipping activity. Collision problems have now been minimised by the clear
marking of FADs and closer cooperation with shipping authorities. With regards to
sabotage, FAD moorings have been cut for unknown reasons and lights removed by
early morning fishers to hinder FAD identification by other fishers.
On several occasions, particularly during early morning troll fishing, disputes have
arisen among fishers or individual boat owners from other locations. However, the
most contentious issue with regards to FADs and people in the Cook Islands is the
use of mid-water fishing techniques and the capture of bait fish. During mid-water
fishing activities fishers tend to moor boats to FADs. Other fishers believe that this
causes undue stress to the FAD mooring system and that the use of ground bait
drives tuna and associated species to depths where troll fishing is ineffective. On
some occasions the disputes have become serious, with fishers being threatened with
machetes. There is one known case of firearm use but fortunately no fishers were
harmed. Fishers have disagreed to bait fishing at FADs due to the justifiable reason
that bait fish attract large schools of pelagic fishes. However, individuals carrying
out FAD inspections have reported that large school’s of bait fish (Decapterus
macarellus and Selar crumenophthalmus) are generally not found at FADs during
periods of good pelagic fish catches.
Data collection
Attempts have been made to determine the benefits of FADs to fishing communities
in the Cook Islands. These have generally involved the recording of information
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such as species, size composition, fishing methods and fishing period. However
information from outer islands is incomplete and hence difficult to interpret. As a
consequence, this report only relates to the FAD program on Rarotonga.
Sims (1988) reported that trolling around FADs produced higher returns in terms of
catch volume than trolling along reef areas. He also reported that FADs enhanced
the development of highly productive mid-water fishing activities. Mitchell (1997)
reported a five-fold increase in catches around FADs compared to the reef coast. A
third study showed that fishers made slightly more (20%) fishing trips to FADs as
opposed to the reef coast (Bertram et al. 1999). It also reported a 35 per cent
increase in annual yield and the fishing community received a ten-fold catch return
on the money paid for deploying one FAD. The latest report concluded that in the
absence of FADs, fishing effort would largely be distributed along the coast or
perhaps a decline in catch volume may be expected.
All three studies reported mid-water fishing activities to be more productive than
troll fishing. Bertram et al. (1999) estimated average gross income of NZD210 and
NZD95 for mid-water and troll fishing trips respectively; however, they found only
10 per cent of all trips made to FADs carried out mid-water fishing activities during
1998. Returns to fishers are highly variable depending on fisher experience and
vessel economics. The average monthly catch values for FAD troll fishing range
from NZD30 to NZD155, with an overall average of NZD95 per trip (calculated
from Bertram et al. 1999). Catch composition by weight for fishing at FADs during
1998 comprised 75 per cent T. albacares, 12 per cent K. pelamis, 9 per cent A.
solandri and the remaining 4 per cent made up of Makira spp, Elagatis bipnnulata,
C. hippurus, Sphyraena barracuda and T. alalunga. These estimates were similar to
those reported by Mitchell (1997).
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Social and economic impact
No studies in the Cook Islands have quantified the social-economic importance of
FADs to fishing communities and society as a whole, or how the FAD interact with
the national economy. This is recognized as an important yet difficult task. Since
the introduction of the FAD program, there has been an increase in the number of
fishers who regularly fish, most of whom operate on a part-time basis. Currently
there are 19 full-time3 fishers on Rarotonga, three of whom are charter operators
(figure 3). On Aitutaki there are a total of four full-time fishers and one full-time
charter operator. Part-time4 fishers appear to have increased rapidly; this could be
due to improved economics of fishing and the increasing demand for seafood, which
has created alternative opportunities to supplement household income. FAD fishing
in the Cook Islands remains largely a male-dominated activity, with fishers ranging
in age from 17 to 65 years. Fishers regard FADs as useful tools, and nearly always
visit FADs when fishing in the area.
Finance
Despite the generally accepted benefits that FADs bring to fishing communities, the
central government financing agency does not seem to recognise the importance of
FAD programs. Prior to 1993 the majority of FADs deployed in the Cook Islands
were funded through aid programs with little financial contribution by government.
Subsequent FADs were purchased through the operating budget of the government
agency responsible for the program. However, due to economic reform (in 1995)
and prioritization of government activities, the agency responsible for the program
3 Full-time fishers are those who fish to provide more than 90 per cent of their income.
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was unable to continue with the purchase of FAD materials for future deployment at
various locations. As a consequence of this difficulty and in an effort to instigate a
‘user-pays’ system, fishers were asked to develop means to generate funds for the
program. An association was formed in November 1998 with representation from all
fishing clubs in the Cook Islands. This association’s primary task is to identify areas
where government can more effectively provide assistance, and to assist government
in developing coastal fisheries policy guidelines and regulatory measures on the use
of FADs. Through cooperative efforts between the Association and Government
agencies, fishers have made contributions, which range between 15 to 30 percent to
the FAD program. Fishing communities5 have used and suggested different methods
to raise funds for their FAD program they include the following:
Ø The Aitutaki fishing clubs currently have two FADs, at the time of
writing one FAD was 11 months old the second 27 months, both were
funded by government and aid sources. Club members have agreed to
designate a day in which fishermen fish and sell the catch at reduced
prices. The fishing days would occur during periods of high catch rates
and when there is a general glut on the tourist market (restaurants, hotels).
Ø Mangaiia Island has a relatively smaller club membership and lacks
significant tourist facilities. Club members have designated the first
Saturday of each month (weather dependent) as FAD fund raising fishing
days.
Ø Boat owners of the four fishing communities on Rarotonga contribute
NZD50 per year to their respective clubs.
4 Part-time fishers are those who fish on a regular basis to supplement household income; this does not
include recreational fishers.
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Ø On Manihiki a fishermen/pearl farmer voluntarily funded 60 per cent of a
complete FAD. This surprisingly generous offer is the first of its kind.
To avoid the possibility of ownership that may result in disputes, or
sabotage, the Ministry of Marine Resources has requested that other
fishermen also contribute towards their FAD fund.
Funds raised by each club are placed in their respective accounts. Using the various
systems three FADs have been deployed and materials for two more FADs have been
ordered. It is anticipated that the contribution by fishing communities will gradually
increase with time particularly the more developed fishing communities of
Rarotonga and Aitutaki.
5 There are several fishing communities and clubs in the Cook Islands, these bodies consist of
president, committee and club members, and some have clubhouses (similar to a sports clubs). The
Cook Islands Fishermen’s Association is a body made up of all fishing club presidents.
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References
[1] Anon., Cook Islands 1996 census of population and dwellings. Main Report. Min.
Fin. Eco. Man. Cook Islands, 1997, 105 p.
[2] Bertram I., Tatuava S., Kaitara I., Rongo N., Apolo T., Roi N., Mitchell J.,
Makikiriti N., Rarotonga Fish Aggregate Device (FAD) and coastal catch report for
1998, Mis. Rep No. 99/19. Min. Mar. Res., Cook Islands, 1999, 14 p.
[3] Gates P., Cusack P., Preston G., Watt P., Rigging deep-water FAD moorings,
Vol. II. Sec. Pac. Comm. Nouméa, 1996, 43 p.
[4] Mitchell J., FAD survey report Mis. Rep No. 97/1. Min. Mar. Res., Cook Islands,
1997, 4 p.
[5] Preston G., Mead P., Chapman L., and Taumai P., Deep-bottom fishing
techniques for the Pacific Islands. A manual for Fisherman, Sec. Pac. Comm.
Nouméa, 1999, 82 p.
[6] Preston G., Chapman L., Mead P., and Taumai P., Trolling techniques for the
Pacific Islands. A manual for Fisherman, Sec. Pac. Comm. Nouméa, 1987, 126 p.
[7] Sims N., A cost-benefit analysis of FADs in the artisanal tuna fishery in
Rarotonga. SPC/Inshore Fish. Res./BP. 36., Nouméa, 1988, 11 p.
List of figures
Figure 1. The islands of the Cook Islands.
Figure 2. The growth of full-time and part-time fishers and fishing crafts on
Rarotonga.
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Figure 1. The islands of the Cook Islands.
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35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
1980
full time part time
1985
1990
1995
1999
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1980
Boats Canoes
1985
1990
1995
1999
Figure 2. The growth of full-time and part-time fishers (top graph) and fishing crafts
(bottom graph) on Rarotonga. The graphs do not include recreational fishers or their
fishing crafts.
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