Fish aggregating devices
Fish aggregating devices (FADs) are structures placed in the sea to attract some species of pelagic fish. These include tunas, sharks, marlin and yellowtail kingfish. Originally developed for commercial fishing, FADs have become increasingly used around Australia to provide recreational fishing opportunities.
Understanding why FADs work has attracted a lot of scientific interest. The traditional view is that FADs provide structure for small organisms to colonise which then attracts small fish – and in turn, larger fish. Research also suggests that migrating fish use FADs as a resting place or a geographical reference point. The reasons why particular fish are attracted to FADs differs between species.
Locations
FADs were deployed in September 2023 in multiple locations around Tasmania, and remain in the water year-round. See the maps and table below for location details.
Location of FADs and artificial reefs in Tasmania.
| Bridport | 40°59'22.3"S
147°25'44.1"E
| 40°59.3717'S
147°25.735'E
| 40.989528°S
147.428917°E
|
Burnie
| 41°00'51.4"S
145°50'57.8"E
| 41°00.8567'S
145°50.9633'E
| 41.014278°S
145.849389°E
|
Low Head
| 41°02'17.3"S
146°47'18.7"E
| 41°02.2883'S
146°47.3117'E
| 41.038139°S
146.788528°E
|
| Devonport | 41°08'39.6"S
146°25'12.2"E | 41°08.66'S
146°25.2034'E
| 41.144333°S
146.420056°E |
Marion Bay
| 42°50'40.44"S
147°56'01.73"E | 42°50.674'S
147°56.0288'E
| 42.844566°S
147.933813°E |
Norfolk Bay
| 42°56'42.62"S 147°43'54.78"E | 42°56.7103'S
147°43.913'E
| 42.945172°S
147.731883°E |
Frederick Henry Bay 1
| 42°59'22.09"S
147°33'42.41"E | 42°59.3681'S
147°33.7068'E
| 42.989469°S
147.561780°E |
Frederick Henry Bay 2
| 42°53'26.88"S
147°38'08.88"E | 42°53.448'S
147°38.148'E
| 42.8908°S
147.6358°E |
Storm Bay
| 43°04'33.33"S
147°28'38.80"E | 43°04.5555'S
147°28.6466'E
| 43.075925°S
147.477444°E |
Little Swanport
| 42°17'41.71"S
148°02'22.84"E | 42°17.6951'S
148°02.3806'E
| 42.294919°S
148.039677°E |
Great Oyster Bay 1
|
42°10'22"S
148°10'36"E
| 42°10.371'S
148°10.601'E
| 42.17285°S
148.176683°E
|
Great Oyster Bay 2
|
42°10'24"S
148°10'43"E
| 42°10.404'S
148°10.716'E
| 42.1734°S
148.1786°E
|
St Helens
| 41°14'29"S
148°24'24"E
| 41°14.4833'S
148°24.4'E
| 41.241388°S
148.406666°E
|
Artificial reefs
Artificial reef units
Two artificial reefs were deployed in Tasmanian waters in late 2022 at Great Bay and January 2023 at Turners Beach. This project is the result of a commitment by the Tasmanian Government to provide exciting new recreational fishing opportunities in areas where little natural reef exists.
It is expected that snapper will be a key species attracted to both reefs though it may be several years before they are fully colonised by fish and invertebrates.
Both reefs have received environmental approvals and their impacts will be closely monitored, particularly in the first five years.
Locations
|
Great Bay, D'Entrecasteaux Channel - 166 modules
| NW 43°12'35.16"S
147°18'16.02"E
| NW 43°12.586’S
147°18.267’E
| NW 43.209767°S
147.30445°E
|
NE 43°12'35.34"S
14718'51.18"°
| NE 43°12.589’S
147°18.853’E
| NE 43.209817°S
147.314217°E
|
SE 43°13'01.26"S
147°18'50.94"E
| SE 43°13.021’S
147°18.849’E
| SE 43.217017°S
147.31415°E
|
SW 43°13'01.14"S
147°18'15.42"E
| SW 43°13.019’S
147°18.257’E
| SW 43.216983°S
147.304283°E
|
Turners Beach, North West Coast
- 152 modules
| NW 41°07’11.04"S
146°13’0.42"E
| NW 41°07.184’S
146°13.007’E
| NW 41.119733°S
146.216783°E
|
NE 41°07’11.04"S
146°13’34.79"E
| NE 41°07.184’S
146°13.580’E
| NE 41.119733°S
146.226333°E
|
SE 41° 07’36.77"S
146° 13’34.79"E
| SE 41°07.613’S
146°13.580’E
| SE 41.126883°S
146.226333°E
|
SW 41°07’36.77"S
146°13’0.42"E
| SW 41°07.613’S
146°13.007’E
| SW 41.126883°S
146.216783°E
|