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09 Tournament

The Program

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Report a Recapture

$500 REWARD


Tagging Guide Tagging Guide

TAG A TINYtm

Program

The Large Pelagics Research Lab initiated its Tag a TinyTM program in the summer of 2005, designed to study the annual migration paths and habitat use of juvenile bluefin tuna. In the first three seasons (2005-2007), over juvenile tuna (70-100 cm fork length) have been tagged with interanl implantable archival tags or external pop-up satellite archival tags . These archival tags record light levels to estimate daily geolocation, as well as depth, internal and ambient temperature every four minutes for up to 3 years or 1 year, respectively. In 2006, a complimentary conventional () tagging program was implemented allowing increased participation by the recreational and charter fleets.

The tagging team conducts tagging trips off the eastern shore of Virginia between June and July, and moves north with the fish carrying out tagging trips through out the Gulf of Maine and the waters around Cape Cod through the end of the fishing season. UNH Large Pelagics Research Lab researchers are aided in their tagging efforts by colleagues from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries. The taggin trips are a success because of the great Captains and crews that we fish with. Captain Jack Stallings (F/V Grumpy), F/V Cookie Too captained by Ed (Cookie) Murray, Jr., and crewed by Anthony Mendillo and Everett Petronio, Captain Eric Stewart (F/V Tammy Rose).

Implanted Archival Tagging The juvenile bluefin are caught using rod and reel, and brought on the boat with a vinyl stretcher. A V-shaped cradle provided a platform for the surgery. The investigators made an incision in the dorsal musculature or the intraperitoneal cavity and inserted an archival tag into the fish. The incisions were stitched with mono-filament sutures, and the bluefin were then tagged with a streamer ID tag and released.

The tagged fish can be identified by a bright green “spaghetti tag” indicating the presence of an archival tag within the fish. Anglers are encouraged to retain the whole fish if caught and immediately contact Large Pelagics Research Center Director Dr. Molly Lutcavage (603-862-2891) or Program Manager Nuno Fragoso (603-862-2473). Fishermen are eligible for a $500 reward (see poster) once the fish is received and the tag returned . Want to know more? Keep an electronically tagged fish regardless of size, fishing category or bag limit!!!!! Read the Federal Regulation § 635.33  - Archival tags stating this fact.

Pop-up Satellite Archival Tagging Bluefin are landed with rod and reel, brought on deck and an external pop-up satellite archival (PSAT / X-Tag) is anchored via dart and tether at the base of the second dorsal fin. The PSAT remains outside the fish, where it records pressure, temperature and lihght for upto a year. It then releases from the fish and transmits the data back to the lab in a email using the Argos Satellite system. These tags provide a fishery indepent method of tracking the fish. If you catch a PSAT tagged fish, keep it no matter what. Similar to the implanted tag described above, there is a reward for it's immediate return and the fish does not count towards your bag limit (regulations § 635.33  - Archival tags). These tags also wash up on shore and are returned to us as well. Read about some of the recoveries on the tuna lab website.

Conventional ID Tagging The Center began a conventional ID tagging program in the summer of 2006 to engage the local recreational and charter fishing communities. An introductory tagging workshop allows novice and expert tuna fishers to exchange tips, methods and ideas before heading out on the water. Participants are given Billfish Foundation or NMFS "spaghetti" tags and corresponding LPRC data cards. The tagging program has expanded in each year and has over 400 participants from Maine to Virginia. If you're interested in participating please fill out the from below.

 

TAG A TINYTM Volunteer Sign-up

Name:
   
E-mail:
Phone:
Cell Phone:
 
Address:
City:
State:
Zip Code:
  Optional Information
Participation:
Sector:
Boat Name:
Style:
Homeport:
Catch (/yr):
How did you hear about Tag A Tiny?
 

TAG A TINYTM RECAPTURE REPORT

Tag ID:
Letter Code
Number
Organization:

Tag Color:
Location:
Latitude
Longtitude
Recapture Date:
mm/dd/yy
Species:
Weight:

Length:

Fight time:
Bait:
Hook:

Kept:
Retagged:

New Tag ID:
 
Captain:
e-mail:
F/V:
Angler:
e-mail:
1st Mate:
e-mail:
 
Provide the contact information for person receiving reward
Name:
e-mail:
Address:
phone:
City:
State:
Zip Code:

recaptures can also be reported by:

1) mailing in the tag and the following information to:
Large Pelagics Research Center
University of New Hampshire
Durham, NH 03824

2) Calling 603-862-2473

3) e-mailing the requested information to becca.toppin@unh.edu