Tagging fish to collect data for the survival of California's fisheries

In order to manage California's valuable fisheries resources, biologists need to gather information about fish abundance, growth rates, age, migrations, strain identification, and stocking success.

One way to collect data is by attaching tags to wild fish. Tagging can also be done at a hatchery prior to planting in California ocean or on location during a "catch and release" project.

Fish tagging programs are a vital part of a fishery manager's tools for assessing fish populations. Conducted properly, tagging can yield a wealth of information about movement patterns, habitat utilization, population structure and mortality rates of fish.

On the R/V Pilar, we primarily use spaghetti tags & we are focused on tagging pelagic fish.

We’re eager to tag pelagic species and learn more about their migration patterns and what they encounter along the way. Some of our favorite fish to eat are pelagic & we still don’t know much about them.

Microplastics are a major issue & we need to learn how much plastic these fish consume. The reason this is so important to know is that the fish eat the microplastic & we eat the fish, and this means we’re consuming microplastic when we think we’re eating fresh fish..

These fish aren’t easy to find, let alone catch, tag & then release them safely. What sets us apart is that we are lifelong fishermen & we know how to catch these fish and safely release them.

The R/V Pilar is devoted to this mission & eager to help scientists learn more about pelagic species.

We are a 501 c3 non-profit and every donation makes a big difference in our efforts.

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Pelagic Fish

Pelagic fish can be categorized as coastal and oceanic fish, based on the depth of the water they inhabit. Coastal pelagic fish inhabit sunlit waters up to about 655 feet deep, typically above the continental shelf.

Examples of species include forage fish such as anchovies, sardines, shad, and menhaden and the predatory fish that feed on them. Oceanic pelagic fish typically inhabit waters below the continental shelf. Examples include larger fish such as swordfish, tuna, mackerel, and even sharks.

There is no distinct boundary from coastal to ocean waters so some oceanic fish become partial residents of coastal waters, often during different stages of their lifecycle. However, true oceanic species spend their entire life in the open ocean.

Pelagic fish get their name from the area that they inhabit called the pelagic zone. The pelagic zone is the largest habitat on earth, with a volume of 330 million cubic miles. Different species of pelagic fish are found throughout this zone. Numbers and distributions vary regionally and vertically, depending on the availability of light, nutrients, dissolved oxygen, temperature, salinity, and pressure.

wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Inland/Fish-Tags - Source

www.oceanservice.noaa.gov - Source

peter gotfredsonJanuary 11, 2023fish tags, sustainable fishing, tagging fish