Fish aggregating devices (FADs) are buoys or floats that are moored to the ocean floor using an anchor system. They are designed to attract baitfish which use the FAD as a shelter. Baitfish entice pelagic fish such as mahi-mahi, tuna, wahoo and marlin to gather around the FAD and can be caught by recreational fishers.
The WA Government is investing $1.5 million from 2023 to 2025 to expand the FADs program as part of the support package for the recovery of the West Coast demersal scalefish resource. This follows the successful trial by Recfishwest through the Recreational Fishing Initiatives Fund. The program is now managed by the department.
Fishing off FADs provides recreational fishers with the opportunity to 'switch your fish' and target pelagic species. This provides demersal fish such as pink snapper and dhufish an opportunity to recover.
FADs are deployed and retrieved annually to coincide with prime sport and game fishing seasons. In southern Western Australia (WA), FADs stay in the water between November and May, and in northern WA they stay in the water between April and October.
Enter our FADs Photo Competition!
Take a photo of your catch with the FAD in the background and add:
- Fishing method
- FAD number
- Date of catch
- Your contact info.
You'll go in the draw to win some great prizes donated by local businesses.
Remember good catch care handling in your photos, and if you can take a photo next to a ruler, even better!
Submit photos hereFind a FAD
Current FADs in WA are located at the following GPS coordinates:
| FAD number | Location | Coordinates in degrees decimal minutes |
| 01 |
North Metro (retrieved) |
31°37.277 S, 115'07.997 E |
| 02 |
North Metro (retrieved) |
31°41.716 S, 115'08.008 E |
| 03 | North Metro (retrieved) | 31°42.020 S, 115'10.512 E |
| 04 |
North Metro (retrieved) |
31°43.720 S, 115'10.524 E |
| 05 | Woodman Pt (retrieved) | 32°7.146 S, 115'7.157 E |
| 06 | Woodman Pt (retrieved) | 32°06.780 S, 115'10.065 E |
| 07 | Rockingham (retrieved) | 32°17.559 S, 115'5.636 E |
| 08 | Rockingham (retrieved) | 32°14.876 S, 115'07.300 E |
| 09 | Mandurah (retrieved) | 32°31.560 S, 115'04.200 E |
| 10 | Mandurah (retrieved) | 32°33.253 S, 115'3.404 E |
| 11 | Lancelin (retrieved) | 31°16.566 S, 115'01.629 E |
| 12 | Lancelin (retrieved) | 31°03.947 S, 114'52.463 E |
| 13 | Jurien (retrieved) | 30°1.569 S, 114'30.123 E |
| 14 | Jurien (retrieved) | 30°13.466 S, 114'34.415 E |
| 15 | Jurien (retrieved) | 30°16.700 S, 114'34.873 E |
| 16 | Jurien (retrieved) | 30°29.330 S, 114'37.559 E |
| 29 | Jurien (retrieved) | 30°18.493 S, 114'35.301 E |
| 17 | Steep Pt (retrieved) | 26°10.353 S, 113'2.188 E |
| 18 | Steep Pt (retrieved) | 26°6.378 S, 113'6.336 E |
| 19 | Leeman (retrieved) | 30°00.228 S, 114'29.579 E |
| 21 | Albany (retrieved) | 35°18.796 S, 118'1.906 E |
| 22 | Albany (retrieved) | 35°18.709 S, 118'5.422 E |
| 23 | Albany (retrieved) | 35°22.466 S, 118'7.590 E |
| 24 | Albany (retrieved) | 35°23.391 S, 118'5.566 E |
| 25 | Cape Naturaliste (retrieved) | 33°16.575 S, 114'32.648 E |
| 26 | Cape Naturaliste (retrieved) | 33°18.991 S, 114'41.797 E |
| 27 | Cape Naturaliste (retrieved) | 33°15.790 S, 114'34.937 E |
| 28 | Cape Naturaliste (retrieved) | 33°18.616 S, 114'39.431 E |
| 30 | Abrolhos (retrieved) | 28°59.003 S, 113'46.884 E |
| 31 | Abrolhos (retrieved) | 28°49.656 S, 113'39.923 E |
| 32 | Abrolhos (retrieved) | 28°52.742 S, 113'42.366 E |
| 33 | Exmouth | 21°36.110 S, 114'01.230 E |
| 34 | Exmouth | 21°35.852 S, 114'06.751 E |
| 35 | Exmouth | 21°38.001 S, 114'03.255 E |
| 36 | Exmouth | 21°38.108 S, 114'05.826 E |
| 37 | Broome | 17°54.369 S, 121'45.595 E |
| 38 | Broome | 17°56.928 S, 121'34.420 E |
| 39 | Broome | 17°49.728 S, 121'51.558 E |
| 40 | Broome | 17°54.393 S, 121'51.560 E |
| 41 | Dampier | 20°20.494 S, 116'15.299 E |
| 42 | Dampier | 20°17.044 S, 117'7.873 E |
| 43 | Dampier | 20°24.464 S, 116'23.999 E |
| 44 | Dampier | 20°30.046 S, 116'17.639 E |