Relevant expertise of the speaker:
Dr. Iker Zudaire is a marine biologist and Senior Researcher at AZTI Foundation with over 15 years of experience in tropical tuna biology, reproductive ecology, population dynamics, and sustainable fishing technologies. He obtained his degree in Marine Biology in 2005 from the University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain) and completed his PhD at the University of the Basque Country in 2014. He is an expert in tuna reproductive ecology, with a strong scientific background in the reproductive biology of tropical tuna species and associated physiological processes.
Over the last decade, Dr. Zudaire has played a leading role in the development, testing, and standardization of biodegradable Fish Aggregating Devices (BIOFADs), contributing to some of the most comprehensive applied research efforts conducted in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. His work has directly supported the transition towards biodegradable and non-entangling FADs in response to emerging regulatory requirements and sustainability certification schemes, bridging scientific evidence, industry needs, and fisheries governance.
Currently at AZTI, Dr. Zudaire has coordinated and contributed to multiple European and national projects focused on BIOFAD innovation and sustainable tuna fisheries (including BIOFAD, SEARCULAR, ITUNNES, PROBIO, and BAOBAB). He has collaborated closely with regional fisheries management organizations (IOTC, ICCAT), ISSF, and international research institutes through projects such as FAD-Watch, CECOFAD, and GERUNDIO, ensuring that research outcomes inform management measures and regulatory decision-making. His work has contributed directly to improvements in stock assessments, biological parameter estimation, and the development of science-based policies related to tropical tuna fisheries and FAD impact mitigation strategies, with a particular emphasis on scalable, operational BIOFAD solutions.
Role: Panellist, Participant
Sessions
- Day 2 — Open Table: Emerging Technologies updates
- Day 2 — Panel "Emerging Technologies updates"
