ANALYSIS OF PURSE SEINE SET TIMES FOR FAD AND FREE SCHOOL ASSOCIATIONS IN THE ATLANTIC AND INDIAN OCEANS

This paper analyses a sub set of recent observer data taken on French and Spanish purse seiners fishing in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Its goal is to analyse and compare the set times relative to sunrise of FAD and free schools sets in each ocean. This analysis indicates that set times are equivalent for French and Spanish fleets, and equivalent in both oceans. A wide majority of FAD sets have been observed in the morning (80%), and frequently before sunrise or during the hour after sunrise (44% of sets), but some FAD sets are also done at any time of the day by both fleets. On the contrary, free school sets have been observed in + or equal proportion at any time of the day between sunrise and sunset showing a small decline in the afternoon. The paper also recommends developing in-depth statistical studies of a wider sample of these observer data.