Hi All,
A novel approach to Chinook marine survival research has been underway for several years with a significant funding contribution from the Pacific Salmon Foundation. The project involves tagging thousands of juvenile Chinook salmon with PIT (Passive Integrated Transponder) tags and tracking them back into the river when they return years later. The intent is to find out which fish are surviving and how return rates increase over their first year of life.
The reason this is of importance is that a small fraction of the fish are expected to be caught in recreational and other fisheries. The tags are small (12x2 mm) and consist of a copper winding and micro-chip inside of a glass tube with rounded ends. Tags are usually brown with a black “smoked glass” appearance and comparable to a long grain of rice in size (search Google for photos). They are injected into the body cavity of juveniles and may be found while cleaning fish, usually near the stomach or intestines.
The tags are best found with an RFID scanner which some of the creel surveyors are now carrying this year but please keep an eye out while cleaning fish as they often are visible. Unlike the head depot program, PIT tags can be found in both WILD AND HATCHERY fish. We expect the majority of recoveries from this project to occur within the Strait of Georgia and Puget Sound. A significant number of Columbia River fish are also tagged every year and are more likely to be encountered off the West Coast.
If you find what looks to be a PIT tag please keep it in a safe place and contact Kevin for more information (PM me for now). The data is of significant value to marine survival research and you will find out in-depth tagging information if the tags belong to us as each fish is individually tracked. Swag (hats, shirts, bottles etc.) is available and a reward program may be investigated depending on the number of tags recovered. Tags from previous years are just as valuable so if you are holding on to any now is the time to have them read.
A novel approach to Chinook marine survival research has been underway for several years with a significant funding contribution from the Pacific Salmon Foundation. The project involves tagging thousands of juvenile Chinook salmon with PIT (Passive Integrated Transponder) tags and tracking them back into the river when they return years later. The intent is to find out which fish are surviving and how return rates increase over their first year of life.
The reason this is of importance is that a small fraction of the fish are expected to be caught in recreational and other fisheries. The tags are small (12x2 mm) and consist of a copper winding and micro-chip inside of a glass tube with rounded ends. Tags are usually brown with a black “smoked glass” appearance and comparable to a long grain of rice in size (search Google for photos). They are injected into the body cavity of juveniles and may be found while cleaning fish, usually near the stomach or intestines.
The tags are best found with an RFID scanner which some of the creel surveyors are now carrying this year but please keep an eye out while cleaning fish as they often are visible. Unlike the head depot program, PIT tags can be found in both WILD AND HATCHERY fish. We expect the majority of recoveries from this project to occur within the Strait of Georgia and Puget Sound. A significant number of Columbia River fish are also tagged every year and are more likely to be encountered off the West Coast.
If you find what looks to be a PIT tag please keep it in a safe place and contact Kevin for more information (PM me for now). The data is of significant value to marine survival research and you will find out in-depth tagging information if the tags belong to us as each fish is individually tracked. Swag (hats, shirts, bottles etc.) is available and a reward program may be investigated depending on the number of tags recovered. Tags from previous years are just as valuable so if you are holding on to any now is the time to have them read.
