Correction: The original version of this story had a headline stating the E.U. joined South Pacific groups. The Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) and Sustainable Indian Ocean Tuna Initiative (SIOTI) are both based in the Indian Ocean, not the South Pacific. 

The Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA), Sustainable Indian Ocean Tuna Initiative (SIOTI), and the Spanish Association of Tuna Freezers (AGAC) have joined forced to launch a new project that aims to reduce the impacts of drifting fish aggregating devices (dFADs). 

The new initiative, the FAD Watch Project, aims to reduce the impacts of dFADs on coral reefs, shallow water habitats, and coastal zones, Europêche said in a press release. All European tuna purse seiners are parts of the new initiative, either through participation in AGAC, or through membership in the local groups.

According to Europêche, both ANABAC, the Spanish National Association of Freezer Tuna Vessel Owners,  and ORTHONGEL, the Organisation Des Producteurs de Thon Congelé et Surgelé, which represents French tuna fishers, are members of SIOTI. Another Spanish group, OPAGAC – the Organización Productores Asociados Grandes Atuneros Congeladores, is a member of AGAC.

The new watch project will see the European tuna fleet’s vessels provide the SFA with their dFAD satellite tracking data and online software, information which will help authorities pinpoint the locations of the devices that are entering the perimeters of islands in the Southwest Pacific. By identifying their presence, they can be recovered before they affect marine ecosystems, Europêche said.

The new agreement also includes deploying the Saya de Malha, a new vessel in the Seychelles Coast Guard. INEPESCA Fishing Belize LTD, a fishing company based in Portugal, donated the vessel to the government of Seychelles in 2022.