If you fish Louisiana’s abundant and diverse marine fisheries, then you too can help the LDWF gain data that will ensure this fishery lasts for all generations to come. The Louisiana Cooperative Marine Fish Tagging Program has been instrumental in gathering a vast amount of crucial data for scientists via fish tagging. Knowledge of population structure, mortality rates and movement patterns can be surmised from tagger’s information and recaptured tags.
The tagging program’s success is due to the collaboration of effort by the LDWF, Coastal Conservation Association of Louisiana, universities, non-profit organizations and the volunteer anglers who do the actual tagging and reporting of data. Anglers are issued free tagging kits and taught how to use them and what data to record. Open lines of communication between scientists and anglers are key, and tag data can be mailed or submitted online. The key species to be tagged are currently redfish, speckled trout and yellowfin tuna.
Volunteer taggers get to participate in the science that preserves their favorite pastime. This increased coverage on the water would be difficult and too costly for the LDWF to undertake alone.
The results of this cooperation have been astounding. Over 225,000 fish have been tagged, of which over 9,000 have already been recaptured. This amount of success could not have been achieved without the efforts of volunteer fishermen.
So what do you do if you catch a tagged fish?
Record the tag number and the date. Note the location and length of the fish if possible. It is best if the fish can be given a healthy release with the tag intact. Then call in the tag info or log it in on the web, and you will get a reward.
If you would like to get involved with the tagging program you can get tagging kits and program materials free. Anglers interested in learning more about the tagging program or who want to become volunteer fish taggers can visit www.taglouisiana.com, contact us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/tag.louisiana, by calling 1-800-567-2182 or by emailing [email protected].
