DIFFERENT MEANS CONTRIBUTING TO ANCHORED FAD'S FISHING SELECTIVITY IN THE LESSER ANTILLES 1

SUMMARY In order to improve the sustainable development of FADs fishing, it is important to reduce the capture of juveniles or species that need a decrease in fishing effort, temporarily or definitively. Through previous statistics data coming from commercial fishing trips and new experimental fishing trips, we compared different gears and techniques selectivity for the species and the size of the capture around FADs. We also compared different type of bait used, the best hours to fish for better productivity and to target adults. Finally we look at the influence of the FAD distance from shore. We observed that fishers’ strategies have a critical influence on FADs setting and targeted species. The further the FAD is deployed and the better yield the fisherman obtain. The fishers who target Dolphin fish deploy several FADs while the others exploit generally one FAD per trip. The main results from experimental fishing trips show that the jigging technique around FADs catches blackfin tuna adults. Most of the blackfin and yellowfin tuna captures happened late in the morning and we observed a drop off after 12:00 pm. Flying fish bait (live or dead) seems to be more efficient, except for the blue marlin. An analysis of FADs governance is necessary before advising some technics. RESUME