Another step towards sustainable fishing: Biodegradable materials in marine environments

• Tests carried out on compostable FADs in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans by Zunibal, in collaboration with AZTI, have paved the way towards the development of a new FAD made of a material that is biodegradable in marine environments. Testing of this new FAD will commence in the next phase of the project.
• The new material, certified by the Japan BioPlastics Association, meets the biodegradability standards defined by Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs).
• This innovative material improves the FAD’s mechanical properties, resulting in a lighter and more resistant FAD. The next phase will assess its durability under real fishing conditions. 

17 March 2025, Vizcaya, Zunibal and AZTI, after months of trials in real and semi-controlled conditions, have given new impetus to the evolution of biodegradable Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs). Since February 2024, with the collaboration of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) and the European fleet, 12 compostable FADs have been deployed in semi-controlled environments and a further 210 deployed in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. During this process, Zunibal has worked on perfecting the design and composition of its platform, the first industrialized FAD of its kind. The result is an optimized solution, manufactured entirely with a material certified for biodegradability in marine environments, achieving a solution that meets the requirements of both industry and Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs).

A new material for a more sustainable and efficient FAD

The new platform is made of a bio-based PBS material derived from natural materials such as sugar cane, cassava and corn. It has been certified as biodegradable in marine environments under the ISO 19679 standard by the Japan BioPlastics Association.

Founded in 1989, JBPA is a leading organization in the promotion and certification of biodegradable and bio-based polymers. Its work has been instrumental in establishing industry standards both in Japan and internationally, as well as in developing methodologies for the analysis and evaluation of these materials.

In case of sinking, the platform will descend to the seabed where a natural biodegradation process begins. Microorganisms present in the sediments and seawater degrade the material, releasing CO₂ and water without leaving harmful residues for the ecosystem.

Its optimized composition makes it possible to offer a much lighter and stronger solution than its predecessors, using less material without compromising its durability. Thanks to previous tests, its design has been perfected to achieve a more robust platform, able to better withstand the impacts and demands of offshore operations and maximize the platform’s service life.

Thanks to this new material, the platform meets the definitions of Biodegradable FAD established by Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs), which require bio-based materials used to conform to international standards for biodegradable materials in marine environments. “This new certified material represents a significant advance in reducing the impact of tropical tuna fishing on the ecosystem, responding to regulatory and environmental challenges posed by the industry and Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs),” says AZTI’s Iker Zudaire.

Industry and research driving innovation

“This milestone is the result of a joint effort between the fishing sector and applied research. Thanks to previous tests, we have been able to perfect the design and material. Today we can say that we offer the first industrialized FAD of its kind made of a 100% biodegradable material suitable for marine environments.” says Álvaro Núñez, from Zunibal.

Trials of the compostable FADs, carried out in real conditions in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, are coming to an end. In the coming months, analysis of the results will be carried out with the support of AZTI, and further testing will continue to validate the FAD’s use as a submerged platform for deployment in the Indian Ocean. At the same time, the presentation of the new material to industry and the planning of the first tests will begin with the aim of measuring the performance of the new biodegradable platform and its impact on the operation of the tuna fleet.

With this advance, Zunibal continues its commitment to technological innovation, providing the tuna fleet with solutions that facilitate an effective transition to more sustainable fishing practices, aligned with international regulations and the global commitment to marine conservation.