7 December 2015: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) deployed 25 fish aggregating devices (FADs) along Somalia’s coastline as part of a larger effort to support the livelihoods of small-scale artisanal fishers, relieve fishing pressure on coral reefs and seagrasses and address some of the underlying causes of piracy.

FADs are floating buoys with a habitat mat for plant life to grow. This plant life then attracts fish, essentially creating a new fishing ground. Small-scale fishers can then fish in these areas, which reduce fishing pressure in other areas vulnerable to overfishing. To avoid negative environmental impacts, FAO deploys its FADs in deepwater and anchors them to the seabed.

The FADs’ deepwater locations attract different fish species than coral reefs or seagrasses, which allows small-scale fishers to catch more valuable fish species, such as tuna. According to FAO, its FADs contribute to the creation of sustainable employment opportunities in Somalia’s fisheries sector, providing employment options for youth and others who might be otherwise be drawn to piracy or migration.

“The FADs initiative is at the heart of the work by FAO and our partners to boost coastal livelihoods, strengthen resilience and tackle the underlying causes of piracy – Illegal fishing, degradation of local fisheries, high levels of youth unemployment and food insecurity,” explained FAO’s representative in Somalia, Richard Trenchard.

FAO worked with 20 communities and government agencies in Somalia to identify locations to deploy the FADs and ensure community buy-in. FAO and the local communities developed rules and local best management practices for the FADs, with the aim of reducing the potential of local conflict and promoting the sustainable use of each FAD.

As a next step, FAO intends to work with fishing communities and the government to further invest in Somalia’s fishing sector through improved landing sites, processing facilities and other equipment, such as cold storage areas and ice machines.

The Governments of Japan and Switzerland provided financial support. The European Union (EU) Naval Forces, which plays a role in monitoring fisheries and combating piracy in the region, provided protection and logistical support for deploying the FADs. [FAO Press Release] [FAO Somalia Website]