Fish aggregation devices and artificial reefs

Abstract

The principle of fish aggregation is based on the tendency of fish to concentrate around floatsam and sunken structures for food, shade and shelter (hide-out from predators). The technology is quite popular in Japan, Philippines, United States of America and the Pacific Island countries, and has been in vogue for a long period. For the first time in India this technology was introduced through the pioneering efforts of Raja (1986) who designed and fabricated an indigenous Synthetic Fish Aggregating Device/Artificial Reef (FAD/AR) made from High Density Polyethelene (HDPE) - Patent Registration No. 650/MAS/87. The results of preliminary experiments were highly encouraging and were presented by Raja (1986). Subsequently, all aspects of the FADs/ARs were discussed in detail at the National Fishermen's Forum meeting held at Bangalore, and was well received and appreciated by the participants.