Can We Fix the FAD Problem? Voices from the 2025 Forum
- June 5, 2025
by M. A. Indira Prameswari, Muhammad Novriansyah
The future of Indonesia’s fish aggregating device (FAD) management for tuna took stage at the 2025 National FAD Forum in Jakarta, hosted by the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) with support from MDPI. Stakeholders—from government and academia to fishers, businesses, and civil society—gathered to tackle one big question: how can we manage fish aggregating devices (FADs) more sustainably?
The forum aimed to align fisher livelihoods with the long-term health of tuna stocks. Encouragingly, the discussions produced several mid-term solutions—but real progress will depend on consistent follow-up and policy reform.
FADs Are Leading to Smaller Catch, Period.
Since 2020, MDPI’s field documentation from small-scale fishers in Eastern Indonesia shows that most tuna caught are now under 100 cm in length—far below the recommended mature size of 120 cm.
Putra Satria Timur of MDPI stressed the need to simplify FAD licensing and ensure both small-scale and industrial fleets comply. YKAN’s research backed this up, showing that closely spaced FADs—just 1–5 nautical miles apart—consistently yield smaller fish. “Unregulated FAD placement is shrinking our catch,” said YKAN’s Shinta Yuniarta.
Timur proposed joint responsibility: government should simplify licensing, while fishers and companies should register their FADs. “If small-scale fishers can get FAD licenses, industrial-scale actors should be able to as well,” Timur added.
Read also: Fisheries Co-Management Committee Maluku Pushes Provincial Government to Draft FAD Allocation Law
Rules Exist—But They Don’t Always Work
Current FAD quotas and zoning rules don’t meet the needs of fishers or businesses. Small-scale fishers say they’re losing ground to large fleets, while local companies struggle to compete with foreign vessels.
“There’s no fish left outside the FAD zones,” said Salman Adam, a fisher from North Maluku. “And now FADs are everywhere—it’s like grape clusters in the sea.”
Despite differing perspectives, stakeholders at the forum—fishers, companies, and government—shared a common desire to protect tuna stocks by enforcing FAD regulations. Yet enforcement faces multiple challenges: limited FAD allocation for local fishers, complex licensing processes, and competition from foreign vessels.
In frustration, one industry fisher remarked, “Maybe we should all just stop using FADs. Cut them all off—then it would be fair for everyone.”
Government Says: “Policy Adjustments Are Possible”
The MMAF’s legal team welcomed the idea of reform. “Laws are for people. If conditions change, our rules should too,” said Rifky Setiawan.
He added that MMAF is considering legal discretion to deal with field realities that rigid regulations can’t fully address. “We need to review the rules holistically—from both legal and practical standpoints. It’s either the enforcement is weak, or the rules don’t reflect current realities,” he added.
In response to feedback from fishers, academics, and civil society, MMAF is preparing broader outreach on FAD regulations and may ease certain rules to better match on-the-ground conditions.
Read also: MDPI Highlights Small-Scale Fishers Supporting Tuna Exports at Tuna Talks, World Expo 2025 Osaka
“We’re drafting a one-year action plan based on this forum’s outcomes,” added Putuh Suadela from MMAF. “Policy reviews will follow, and we’re committed to making adjustments.”
Final decisions regarding FAD policy reforms—whether through legal discretion, regulatory easing, or other mechanisms—are expected by 2026.
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Behind the Scenes: A Community-Led Win
The success of a small-scale fishing group in Bisa Island, North Maluku, in securing legal FAD licenses with MDPI’s support has inspired similar efforts across the region. One of their official licenses was issued in November 2023. Since clearing unregistered FADs, the fishers of Bisa Island say they can now fish without fear, knowing their FADs are legally recognized and won’t be dismantled by authorities.
Watch the full story in the documentary below: