Dispersal and Beaching Patterns of Drifting Fish Aggregating Devices (dFADs) as Marine Litter in the Northern of Gulf of Guinea

Purse seine fishers widely use drifting Fish Aggregating Devices (dFADs) to attract and capture tropical tuna across the world’s oceans. While effective for fisheries, dFADs pose significant ecological risks, particularly through marine pollution and beaching. This study presents the first regional assessment of dFAD dispersal and beaching patterns as marine litter in the Gulf of Guinea, using GPS buoy track data from dFADs deployed by French purse seiners operating in the region between 2008 and 2014. Spatial analysis reveals substantial variability in drift trajectories, driven by differences in deployment density and regional ocean circulation. The highest beaching rates are observed in the northeastern Gulf of Guinea, likely influenced by the retroflection of the Guinea Current and low deployment density. A second beaching hotspot occurs in the northern Gulf of Guinea, potentially affected by the Guinea Current and the eastward movement of mesoscale eddies. Beached dFADs pose severe ecological threats, especially in the Ivorian-Ghanaian upwelling zone, where high concentrations particularly in the northeast and around Cape Three Points overlap with key spawning habitats. This increases the risk of habitat degradation and disruption of critical fish populations. These findings highlight the urgent need for improved management strategies to mitigate the environmental impacts of dFADs in the region.