The IPB Research Team Develops Portable FADs for Tuna, Cob, Cakalang

The research team from the Embrio, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences (FPIK) of the IPB University and the Fisheries High School developed portable FADs to catch Tuna, Cob, Cakalang (TTC). The research team consisting of Dr. Mala Nurilmala, Dr. Roza Yusfiandayani, Prof. Dr. Nurjanah, Dr. Ir. M. Fedi A. Sondita, Dr. Asadatun Abdullah, Rahmat Mualim, M.Sc., Afriana, M.Sc and Hery, M.Sc., conducted research under the title of Development of FADs Technology and Integrated Quality Assurance for sustainable fisheries of tuna, cob, and cakalang.

According to Roza, the use of FADs is positive for fishing businesses. But there is another side that can threaten fisheries sustainability, especially if fishermen overfished young fish. It is necessary to develop appropriate FADs that maintain fish preservation.

"Responding to these problems we developed FAD technology innovations, namely portable FADs. Portable FAD is a development of conventional FADs that uses the concept of fish response related to the use of sound frequencies and raffia straps on attractors. The advantages of portable FADs are compact, easy to pack and operate, lights feature, raffia and sound frequencies, durable, economical, save fuel oil because they do not chase fish groups, can be operated anywhere and maintenance is easy," he said.

The operation of portable FADs is not done permanently but can be moved according to the desired fishing area. When not used, these FADs can be carried and transferred to other areas or stored until the next fishing operation is carried out.

"In this research, integrated quality assurance to maintain fish freshness will be carried out by developing fast and accurate detection methods. TTC handling techniques will be developed so that the quality is excellent. Rapid histamine detection will be developed molecularly with Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), so that histamine which has become a problem can be dealt with quickly and accurately. The partners of the companies involved will support the provision of slurry ice which has not been developed in Indonesia. "This ice can maintain the freshness of TTC so that fish can be sold with high quality and high prices," he added. (RYS)