Drifting fish aggregating devices used by industrial tuna fleets are entering more than half of the world’s marine protected areas [1].

This trend undermines global efforts to preserve biodiversity by introducing industrial fishing tools into sanctuaries designed to be free from such interference. Because these devices drift with ocean currents, they bypass the traditional boundary enforcement used to keep fishing vessels out of protected waters.

Industrial tuna fleets utilize these devices, known as dFADs, to attract fish. While a marine protected area can ban the presence of fishing boats, it cannot stop gear that was released outside its boundaries from drifting inside [1]. This creates a loophole in ocean conservation, where the physical presence of fishing equipment persists even in the absence of the ships that deployed them.

According to the study, some dFADs travel thousands of kilometers before they eventually sink [1]. This long-distance travel allows gear deployed in open international waters to penetrate deep into protected zones across the globe.

The research highlights a systemic failure in current maritime protections. Since the gear is not attached to a vessel, it does not trigger the same legal or physical alarms as an illegal fishing boat. The presence of these devices can alter the behavior of marine life and introduce plastic pollution into fragile ecosystems.

Conservationists said that the scale of the issue requires a shift in how the international community manages industrial gear. The study suggests that current MPA regulations are insufficient because they focus on the vessel rather than the equipment that the vessel leaves behind [1].

“Drifting tuna fishing gear is entering more than half of the world’s marine protected areas.”

The findings indicate a critical gap in the 'paper park' phenomenon, where areas are legally protected on maps but lack functional protection on the water. Because dFADs are passive drifters, they represent a form of 'invisible' industrial footprint that current maritime law is not equipped to regulate, suggesting that future marine treaties may need to mandate biodegradable gear or stricter deployment zones to ensure sanctuaries remain truly isolated from industrial activity.