Training in use of Fish Aggregation Devices (FAD)

Use of Fish Aggregation Devices (FAD) or rumpon in Indonesian is a new form of technology for catching fish which has been used by Japanese fishermen since the 1970s. FAD are usually installed in the sea, both in shallow and deep waters. The latter are called deep water FAD. It is not certain what causes fish to aggregate or gather close to these FAD but the results of research show that the types of fish most attracted to FAD are pelagic fish like tuna (tongkol), Spanish mackerel (tenggiri), gembung etc.

Use of FAD is also one way of protecting coral reefs because the fish that usually collect near coral reefs will move (from the reefs) to the FAD so that fishing activities can be done without damaging reefs.

Training in the use of FAD was done for 25 days in Simeulue and Aceh Singkil District. The trainees were fishermen group organized by AOC (Aceh Ocean Coral). These group will later receive the FADs built during training.

Other fishermen, non-group member, whose interested were allowed to take part in the training. A total of 591 Aceh Singkil fishermen and 904 Simeulue fishermen attend the training.

Just as in the training for KJA, the FAD training was organized with ToT training then followed by field Field Level Training afterwards. The Chief Instructor of FAD training is Dr. Sulaeman Martasuganda from IPB Bogor, who has 42 years marine fisheries experience under his belt.

The training took over a whole day and covered definition, how to make and install, maintenance, positioning and fishing operations at FAD topics. Trainee were also trained to assemble a good FAD. “Actually we already know about FADs and their use”, said Afriadi, Teluk Nibung’s head of the fleet (panglima laot). “But usually the FAD made and positioned by our fisherman are very simple and didn’t last long”. The lack of good FADs according to Afriadi has been due to lack funds.

 

 

Sumber artikel :

http://library.had-int.org/ssfss-volume-iii-april-june-2011/