Fish aggregating devices Guide

Fish aggregating devices (FADs) are human-made structures anchored offshore that attract fish, making them easier to catch so you can have a great fishing experience.

The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries is installing FADs off the Queensland coast as part of the FADs program.

During the first stage of the program, 25 surface FADs were deployed off South East Queensland—from K’gari (formerly Fraser Island) to the Gold Coast. These FADs have been popular with fishers, with great catches of mahi mahi reported.

As part of the next stage of the program, FADs have been deployed off these locations:

• Weipa—4 surface FADs
• Wide Bay Burnett—3 surface and 4 all-water FADs
• South East Queensland—12 subsurface FADs
• Karumba—2 all-water FADs.

Additional FADs are also being considered for other parts of Queensland.

Fish attracted to FADs

Most fish attracted to the FADs are seasonal pelagic fish, which travel in the warm water delivered by ocean currents. Species caught around the FADs include mahi mahi, wahoo, tuna, cobia, mackerel and billfish.

Mahi mahi are the most common species of fish caught around the FADs and are the perfect sport fish:

• They have a remarkable growth rate, known to grow as fast as 7cm in a week.
• Adult fish can grow to almost 200cm (weighing up to 40kg).
• They can be sexually mature as early as 6 months of age and reproduce at a high rate.
• They are relatively short-lived—they rarely live past 2 years of age.

Safety around FADs

• Find out how to fish safely around FADs.
• To report a lost or damaged FAD, email fads@daf.qld.gov.au or call 13 25 23.

Monitoring programs

You can help monitor fish numbers around the FADs by:

• providing details of your recreational fishing trips at the FADs via the FADs fishing form
• providing your catch details to Fisheries Queensland boat ramp survey staff at public boat ramps
• tagging pelagic fish caught near FADs (find out how to get involved in the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries Game Fish Tagging Program)
• reporting the capture of tagged mahi mahi by calling the phone number on the tag or emailing fads@daf.qld.gov.au.

Read the results of the FADs boat ramp surveys 2019 to 2021.

FADs are also fitted with acoustic receivers that detect and track acoustic-tagged animals. They form part of the Integrated Marine Observing System national receiver network for animal tracking around Australia.

• How fish aggregating devices work

  Fish aggregating devices (FADs) provide structure in an open ocean environment. Fish are attracted to FADs for various reasons, including to feed on prey species or as reference points for schooling. Most fish attracted to the Queensland FADs are seasonal pelagic fish, which travel in the warm water delivered by ocean currents.

  The FADs work most effectively when the sea temperature exceeds 20°C. Various FADs were assessed to find the best design for the intended species and to withstand the particularly harsh sea conditions experienced off the Queensland coast.

  Three types of FADs are deployed off Queensland: surface FADs, subsurface FADs and all-water FADs. Each type is designed specifically for the locations and intended species, and all are anchored to the sea floor.

  Surface FADs

  These consist of:

  • 800mm cone-shaped special marker buoy
  • 2nm range marine lantern
  • acoustic receiver
  • GPS tracker.

  These FADs are designed to aggregate pelagic fish, particularly mahi mahi, wahoo, cobia and billfish.

  Subsurface FADs

  These consist of:

  • six 300mm floats
  • dyneema aggregators.

  The top of the FADs are positioned a minimum 25m below the surface.

  These FADs are designed to aggregate mahi mahi, yellowfin tuna and billfish.

  All-water FADs

  These consist of:

  • 800mm cone-shaped special marker buoy
  • 2nm range marine lantern
  • acoustic receiver
  • GPS tracker
  • mid-water 300mm buoy/s
  • dyneema aggregators
  • 1.6 tonne pyramid/ledge and cave habitat anchor/s.

  These FADs are designed to aggregate pelagic and demersal fish species including mahi mahi, cobia, mackerel, trevally, golden snapper, cod and coral trout.

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• Safe use of fish aggregating devices

  Fish aggregating devices (FADs) are for the benefit and enjoyment of all fishing sectors, so make sure you follow the code of conduct:

  • Respect other FAD users at all times.
  • Be courteous to fishers who are already using the FAD.
  • FAD users should take turns fishing the FAD and accommodate new arrivals.
  • Spearfishers should be aware of other FAD users and should not enter the water if other boats are around the FAD. Likewise, anglers should wait until spearfishers have completed their drift past the FAD before deploying lines (spearfishers usually only spend a short time around FADs).
  • Spearfishers should always tow a float displaying the 'Divers Flag A'.
  • A safety boat, with the operator acting as a lookout, should accompany spearfishers at all times.
  • All fishers should keep boats, lines and lures a safe distance from the FAD, spearfishers and other boats at all times.
  • Do not tie your boat up to the FADs. This may damage the mooring line of the FAD, causing the device to break free and become lost (fines apply).
  • Limit your catch—don't catch your limit, and only take what you need.

  Drift fishing and trolling are the most effective techniques for line fishing around FADs—however, avoid using sinkers.

  The subsurface FADs are not visible from the surface, so use the GPS coordinates and locate the fish in the area with an echosounder.

  Boating safety

  Some FADs are situated long distances from shore, so please make sure your boat is suitable for offshore fishing and you have all the correct safety equipment required by law. Find out what safety equipment you need at Maritime Safety Queensland.

  Make sure conditions are suitable for boating before heading offshore. Check the current marine weather forecast at the Bureau of Meteorology.

  No mooring

  FADs are not designed as mooring devices—no mooring is allowed (fines apply).

  FADs work most effectively when they are left in place for long periods of time. Tying your boat to a FAD can result in the anchors dragging or the FAD breaking free and becoming lost. Every time a FAD is lost, a productive fishing location is also lost.

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• Find a fish aggregating device

  Fish aggregating devices (FADs) are deployed in the following locations all year round:

  South East Queensland

  FAD type	FAD location	Latitude (DDM)	Longitude (DDM)	Distance from nearest access point (nm)	Depth of water (m)
  Surface FAD	FAD 1: Gold Coast 24s	27° 59.268'S	153° 31.747'E	6 from Gold Coast Seaway	46
  Surface FAD	FAD 2: Gold Coast 50s	27° 55.790'S	153° 45.198'E	16 from Gold Coast Seaway	85
  Surface FAD	FAD 3: Gold Coast 36s	27° 48.408'S	153° 37.472'E	12 from Gold Coast Seaway	68
  Surface FAD	FAD 11: Gold Coast 36s	28° 03.047'S	153° 39.480'E	16 from Gold Coast seaway	65
  Surface FAD	FAD 12: Gold Coast 36s	27° 56.040'S	153° 38.331'E	11 from Gold Coast seaway	64
  Surface FAD	FAD 12B: Gold Coast 36s	27° 55.834'S	153° 37.353'E	11 from Gold Coast seaway	64
  Surface FAD	FAD 12C: Gold Coast 36s	27° 55.029'S	153° 38.267'E	11 from Gold Coast seaway	64
  Surface FAD	FAD 13: Gold Coast 50s	27° 44.368'S	153° 44.314'E	20 from Gold Coast Seaway	86
  Surface FAD	FAD 14: Gold Coast 36s	27° 41.278'S	153° 36.832'E	18 from Gold Coast Seaway	66
  Surface FAD	FAD 15: Point Lookout offshore	27° 23.448'S	153° 40.623'E	12 from South Passage bar	104
  Surface FAD	FAD 4: Stradbroke offshore	27° 17.029'S	153° 37.672'E	9.5 from South Passage Bar	83
  Surface FAD	FAD 16: Moreton offshore	27° 11.097'S	153° 36.894'E	13 from South Passage bar	108
  Surface FAD	FAD 5: Moreton offshore	27° 05.797'S	153° 34.177'E	14 from Comboyuro Point	89
  Surface FAD	FAD 17: Cape Moreton offshore	26° 59.654'S	153° 33.585'E	5 from Cape Moreton	108
  Surface FAD	FAD 6: Bribie offshore	26° 55.735'S	153° 31.775'E	12 from Comboyuro Point	100
  Surface FAD	FAD 18: Wide Caloundra	26° 44.758'S	153° 27.189'E	18 from Mooloolaba	60
  Surface FAD	FAD 19: Mooloolaba 18nm	26° 34.521'S	153° 27.213'E	18 from Mooloolaba	49
  Surface FAD	FAD 7: Mooloolaba 10nm	26° 35.908'S	153° 19.686'E	10 from Mooloolaba	55
  Surface FAD	FAD 7B: Mooloolaba 10nm	26° 34.999'S	153° 18.665'E	10 from Mooloolaba	56
  Surface FAD	FAD 7C: Mooloolaba 10nm	26° 35.099'S	153° 20.727'E	10 from Mooloolaba	56
  Surface FAD	FAD 8: Mooloolaba east	26° 34.259'S	153° 33.796'E	24 from Mooloolaba	101
  Surface FAD	FAD 20: Noosa	26° 22.700'S	153° 14.300'E	9 from Noosa	52
  Surface FAD	FAD 9: Noosa	26° 15.558'S	153° 19.754'E	14 from Noosa	55
  Surface FAD	FAD 10: Double Island offshore	25° 53.075'S	153° 21.907'E	16 from Wide Bay Bar	57
  Surface FAD	FAD 21: K’gari (formerly Fraser Island) offshore	25° 41.269'S	153° 22.616'E	17 from Wide Bay bar	51
  Subsurface FAD	SFAD 1A: Gold Coast continental shelf	27° 55.542'S	153° 53.764'E	25 from Gold Coast Seaway	256
  Subsurface FAD	SFAD 1B: Gold Coast continental shelf	27° 54.555'S	153° 54.108'E	25 from Gold Coast Seaway	273
  Subsurface FAD	SFAD 1C: Gold Coast continental shelf	27° 55.425'S	153° 54.765'E	26 from Gold Coast Seaway	306
  Subsurface FAD	SFAD 2A: Point Lookout continental shelf	27° 25.720'S	153° 49.764'E	19 from South Passage Bar	250
  Subsurface FAD	SFAD 2B: Point Lookout continental shelf	27° 24.894'S	153° 50.489'E	20 from South Passage Bar	258
  Subsurface FAD	SFAD 2C: Point Lookout continental shelf	27° 25.738'S	153° 51.278'E	20 from South Passage Bar	290
  Subsurface FAD	SFAD 3A: Cape Moreton continental shelf	27° 01.074'S	153° 45.918'E	22 from Comboyuro Point	269
  Subsurface FAD	SFAD 3B: Cape Moreton continental shelf	27° 00.412'S	153° 46.696'E	23 from Comboyuro Point	280
  Subsurface FAD	SFAD 3C: Cape Moreton continental shelf	27° 01.088'S	153° 47.563'E	23 from Comboyuro Point	295
  Subsurface FAD	SFAD 4A: Mooloolaba continental shelf	26° 40.491'S	153° 40.111'E	29 from Mooloolaba	233
  Subsurface FAD	SFAD 4B: Mooloolaba continental shelf	26° 39.887'S	153° 40.786'E	29 from Mooloolaba	244
  Subsurface FAD	SFAD 4C: Mooloolaba continental shelf	26° 40.709'S	153° 41.170'E	30 from Mooloolaba	252

  Wide Bay Burnett

  FAD type	FAD location	Latitude (DDM)	Longitude (DDM)	Distance from nearest access point (nm)	Depth of water (m)
  Surface FAD	FAD F1: Rooney Point, K’gari (formerly Fraser Island)	24° 48.760'S	153° 06.151'E	31 from Urangan	34
  Surface FAD	FAD F2: K’gari (formerly Fraser Island) offshore	24° 37.897'S	153° 24.348'E	8 from Sandy Cape	54
  Surface FAD	FAD F3: K’gari (formerly Fraser Island) offshore	24° 58.062'S	153° 32.673'E	11 from Waddy Point	54
  All-water FAD	FAD B1a: Bundaberg offshore	24° 39.163'S	152° 32.925'E	10 from Burnett Heads	25
  All-water FAD	FAD B1b: Bundaberg offshore	24° 39.265'S	152° 33.012'E	10 from Burnett Heads	25
  All-water FAD	FAD B1c: Bundaberg offshore	24° 39.355'S	152° 32.922'E	10 from Burnett Heads	25
  All-water FAD	FAD B1d: Bundaberg offshore	24° 39.280'S	152° 32.835'E	10 from Burnett Heads	25

  Far North Queensland

  FAD type	FAD location	Latitude (DDM)	Longitude (DDM)	Distance from nearest access point (nm)	Depth of water (m)
  Surface FAD	FAD G1: Weipa	12° 58.959'S	141° 17.009'E	36 from Weipa	30
  Surface FAD	FAD G2: Weipa	12° 56.448'S	141° 22.193'E	29 from Weipa	30
  Surface FAD	FAD G3: Weipa	12° 48.671'S	141° 23.665'E	25 from Weipa	30
  Surface FAD	FAD G4: Weipa	12° 49.903'S	141° 32.594'E	18 from Weipa	21
  All-water FAD	FAD G5: Karumba	17° 21.737'S	140° 43.887'E	8 from Karumba	7
  All-water FAD	FAD G6: Karumba	17° 14.916'S	140° 37.286'E	18 from Karumba	11

Fish aggregating devices, 13 Nov 2023, [https://www.qld.gov.au/recreation/activities/boating-fishing/rec-fishing/fish-aggregating-devices]

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