Fishing Aggregating Devices

A Fishing Aggregating Device is a form of illegal fishing gear which is made of a plastic jug, palm leaves, recreational fishing line, and a lead weight. FADs are the leading cause of plastic pollution because the cheap line can get swallowed by wildlife and they can become entangled. Some FADs can become ghost if the line breaks and most are made of old motor oil and antifreeze bottles which if swallowed can poison wildlife. Sea Shepherd plans to find and remove these before they can cause any harm.

The Mission of Operation Siso and Operation Milagro 7 is to find these illegal devices and destroy them to protect the worlds marine life. To date Sea Shepherd has destroyed over 500 FADs and illegal fishing gear but the fight is not over until these waters are patrolled and every piece of illegal gear is destroyed.

Disarming
The fallowing video from Sea Shepherd shows how they disarm this trap which is a six step process. First Sea Shepherd goes out with the Hunter and uses a hook to catch the FAD and sever the mooring line. Next any bottles of antifreeze or oil are removed and placed in the boat, Next the trap is disarmed and the fern leaves are removed and any artificial shades are taken out. Next a buoy is attached and the Conrad picks it up and reels in the line. Next the mooring line is retrieved and the weights are removed if it contains rocks they are dumped back into the sea. Finally the trap is transferred to the Sea Eagle and taken to shore where it is collected as evidence or destroyed.