
Sixteen FADs have been strategically placed at key fishing spots off the Far North, Mid North and Hunter coasts of NSW, ranging between nine and 32 kilometres off shore, including three near Coffs Harbour.
"These devices are deployed each year as it starts to warm up to enhance recreational fishing opportunities by attracting surface dwelling fish such as mahi-mahi for sport and eating," said Minister for Primary Industries, Lands and Water Niall Blair.
"This means recreational fishers can venture out to sea, drop a line near a FAD buoy and have a greater chance of hooking a big one.
"I love ‘wetting a line’ and I encourage those keen on sea fishing to look up a FAD near them and head out for a great day of fishing."
Member for Coffs Harbour, Andrew Fraser said: "More than $130 million has been spent on projects like this to improve recreational fishing for the one million fishers who drop a line every year.
“There are three FADs which have been deployed near Coffs Harbour, one northat Wooli, one at Coffs Harbour itself and one at Nambucca to the south," Mr Fraser said.
FADs are yellow, spherical buoys with a flashing beacon for safe navigation. Thirty buoys will eventually be deployed off the NSW coast for the summer fishing season.
Full details of where each FAD is located can be found
here. Photo credit: Second photo by The Hook and the Cook.