Marine Instruments, Satlink and Zunibal sign a historic joint declaration to promote the sustainable management of echo-sounder buoys

• For the first time, the world’s three leading manufacturers of smart buoys have signed a joint agreement to coordinate actions on drifting FAD (dFAD) recovery, traceability and data-driven fisheries management.
• The declaration establishes three shared areas of action (prevention, recovery and circularity, and data for improved FAD management) aligning the companies’ existing programmes under a common framework for responsible management.
• Alongside the declaration, the three companies are co-authors of Smart Buoys and Sustainable Tuna Fisheries, a technical publication aimed at fishing companies, scientists and fisheries management bodies.

Marine Instruments, Satlink y Zunibal, the world’s three leading manufacturers of smart buoys, have signed a Joint Declaration of Intent for the Sustainable Management of Echo-Sounder Buoys, marking an unprecedented agreement in the sector and a significant step towards more responsible and collaborative management of drifting FADs in tropical tuna fisheries.

Echo-sounder buoys are smart, satellite-connected devices that are deployed on drifting Fish Aggregating Devices (drifting FADs or dFADs) used in tropical tuna fisheries to monitor their position and movement. These smart buoys also provide real-time information on the presence of tuna beneath the device, enabling more efficient, selective and sustainable fishing operations. However, drifting FADs can drift outside fishing areas and become difficult to recover, highlighting the need for more coordinated management approaches across the entire value chain.

The declaration was formally signed on 18 March 2026, following its presentation at the Pacific Community (SPC) Workshop on Drifting Fish Aggregating Devices in Papeete, French Polynesia. This forum brought together governments, scientific institutions and representatives of the fishing industry to advance responsible FAD management. The three companies presented this joint approach during the session “Contribution of Technology Providers to the Responsible Use and Management of Buoys”. The agreement establishes a shared framework to strengthen cooperation, improve accountability and traceability, reduce environmental impact and support data-driven FAD management.

Patricia Ordóñez, Director of Science and Sustainability at Zunibal, described the declaration as a shift towards closer coordination among providers around shared responsible management priorities. “Innovation drives our competitiveness, but sustainability demands our unity,” she said. “We are demonstrating that market leadership entails a shared responsibility. This declaration aligns our efforts to help ensure that the technology driving today’s catches also helps safeguard the fisheries of tomorrow.”

Jorge Pérez-Bouzada, Director of Sustainable Fisheries at Marine Instruments, stated: “Responsible fisheries require innovation, collaboration and long-term commitment. This declaration shows that leading buoy manufacturers can work together on key challenges such as traceability, recovery and circularity, contributing to the responsible management of drifting FADs and the long-term sustainability of tuna fisheries.”

Kathryn Gavira O’Neill, Director of the Science and Sustainability Department at Satlink, emphasised: “This agreement is unique in our industry. For the first time, the three leading manufacturers of echo-sounder buoys are joining forces to take a further step in FAD management. Beyond providing technologies that enable more efficient and sustainable fishing operations, we are joining forces to support the long-term future of the tuna industry.”

The collaboration establishes a shared framework structured around three areas of action:

• Prevention (by supporting recovery initiatives): aligning systems to strengthen industry-led initiatives such as FAD Watch, and to facilitate early detection and the prevention of stranding events.
• Recovery and circularity: harmonising best practices from existing projects Blue Recovery (Marine Instruments), ReCon (Satlink) and SEARCLE (Zunibal) with the aim of improving end-of-life buoy management and exploring shared collection and/or recycling centres in strategic ports.
• Data as operational support: exploring mechanisms to responsibly share non-sensitive and non-confidential information, improving understanding of FAD behaviour and supporting science-based management by the relevant institutions.

Together with the declaration, Marine Instruments, Satlink and Zunibal have jointly developed the technical publication “Smart Buoys and Sustainable Tuna Fisheries“. This document serves as a reference resource to highlight the role of smart buoys as essential tools in support of the fishing industry’s objectives. The publication underscores how technological innovation provides the fleet with advanced data to further optimise operational efficiency and reinforces the sector’s ongoing commitment to food security and the responsible management of marine resources.

Together, the declaration and the technical publication reflect a shared commitment to moving from individual initiatives towards more coordinated action. By aligning practices around responsibility, traceability, recovery, circularity and continuous improvement, Marine Instruments, Satlink and Zunibal aim to support more effective FAD management, contribute to a more responsible blue economy and help preserve the long-term health of the marine ecosystem.