CIPA26 | EHorcajo Spatial Risk Assessment of Anchored Fishing

Sesion 2 Charla 16 (https://www.webcongreso.com/cipa) Spatial Risk Assessment of Anchored Fishing Aggregation Devices Loss in the Mediterranean Sea: A Multi-Criteria Approach Abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear represents one of the most harmful forms of marine litter, with Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) emerging as a major source of concern. While drifting FADs have received substantial attention in tropical and subtropical fisheries, anchored FADs (aFADs) also contribute significantly to marine pollution, particularly in the Mediterranean, where artisanal dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) fisheries depend heavily on their use. This study presents a spatial assessment of aFAD loss risk in the Mediterranean using a GIS-based Multi-Criteria Analysis that integrates environmental and anthropogenic factors. Spatial datasets spanning from August to December (i.e. corresponding to the seasonal pattern of the dolphinfish fishery) were harmonized and standardized to a common spatial resolution, with relative weights derived from documented buoy loss events. Results suggest that wave energy could be among the dominant drivers of aFAD loss, followed by interactions with marine traffic. The resulting risk maps revealed hotspots of aFAD lines falling within moderate risk areas. These findings indicate that seasonal wave exposure and localized maritime traffic exert the greatest influence on aFAD vulnerability. The study provides the first spatially resolved risk model for aFAD loss in the Mediterranean and highlights the need to incorporate temporal variability and stakeholder knowledge into adaptive management and mitigation strategies for small-scale FAD fisheries.