BLUE AND GREEN FISH AGGREGATION DEVICES ARE MORE ATTRACTIVE TO FISH

To examine the attractiveness of coloured fish aggregation devices (FA Ds), six sets of four to six FADs of the kite type were deployed in co astal waters and dive observations were carried out for 15 months. The FADs had the same dimensions but different kite colours: white, black , blue, green, yellow and red. Fish abundance and aggregation patterns around the FADs were scored and statistically analysed, Fish tended t o be most abundant near the blue and green FADs, least abundant near t he black and white FADs, and intermediate near the yellow and red FADs . Aggregations stayed closer to green and blue FADs than to white, yel low, black or red FADs, The more attractive FADs were the less visible ones. Thus, fish were attracted to blue and green FADs on the basis o f hue rather than contrast.