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Commercial Fisheries News
Volume 33 Number 1
September 2005
Who's behind yellowtail tagging? Local boats and people you know
WOODS HOLE, MA – The yellowtail flounder tagging project is in its third year of operation, and it’s gaining an increasing amount of support and credibility within the fleet.
Fifteen different boats have taken part in the project since its inception in 2003 and, if funding comes through for 2006, scientists will be looking for more boats to help out next year.
According to project leader Steve Cadrin of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center, the operation wouldn’t have been possible without industry. Fishermen provide both vessels as tagging platforms and on-the-water fishing expertise.
Participants are selected through a competitive bidding process.
Here are the vessels and captains who’ve helped carry out the tagging work so far:
• Tenacious, Phippsburg, ME – Proctor Wells, tagged in 2003 in Area 513;
• Ellen Diane, Hampton, NH – Dave Goethel, tagged in 2003 in Area 514 and in 2004 and 2005 in Area 513;
• Blue Skies, Provincetown, MA – Luis Ribas, tagged in 2003, 2004, and 2005 in Area 514;
• Joanne A II, Chatham, MA – Bill Amaru, tagged in 2003 in Area 521;
• Trident, New Bedford, MA – Rodney Avila Jr., tagged in 2003 and 2004 in Areas 522, 525, 562, and 561 and in 2005 in those areas, excluding 562, plus Areas 521, 526, 537, and 613;
• Heather Lynn, Point Judith, RI – Steve Follett, tagged in 2003 in Areas 526, 537, 539, and 613;
• Northern Crusader, New Bedford – Joao Camarao, tagged in 2003 in Area 521;
• Voyager I, New Bedford – Tony Fernandes (captain during tagging trips), tagged in 2004 in Area 526;
• T-Luis, New Bedford – Tony Santos, tagged in 2004 in Area 526;
• Heritage, Point Judith – Tom Williams, tagged in 2004 in Areas 537 and 539;
• Vincenzo, Schinnecock, NY – Sandy Mason, tagged in 2004 in Area 613;
• Victory, New Bedford – Manuel Marquinhos, tagged in 2004 in Area 537;
• Olympia, Portland, ME – John Raymond, tagged in 2004 in Areas 522, 525, 562, and 561;
• Elizabeth, Boothbay Harbor, ME – Shawn McLellan, tagged in 2004 in Areas 522, 525, 562, and 561; and
• Sao Paulo, New Bedford – Tony Borges, tagged in 2005 in Area 562.
Funding sources
The tagging work began in 2003 as a pilot project funded through the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s Stock Assessment Improvement Program.
But then, in what proved to be a real boost, the Northeast Consortium funded all of the tags and tagging trips for 2004 and 2005, and that covered more than half the cost of the program. NMFS came through again with the rest of the money through in-house funds at the science center and through the center’s cooperative research program.
Project leaders are now in the process of seeking funds for 2006 tagging work.
SMAST, RI, MA
Even though the project is based at and coordinated by the science center, many other institutions have been heavily involved.
The School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST) at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth has been a partner from the start, overseeing seven tagging trips in 2003 and 2004 and leading the way in outreach efforts, especially in New Bedford.
The Rhode Island Division of Fish and Wildlife has not only supported the tagging work but has conducted an industry-based yellowtail survey that’s providing information about the status of yellowtail in Southern New England.
The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) has contributed significantly as well. In fact, DMF’s Jeremy King was key in helping develop the protocol for scale collections.
Cadrin credits all these agencies and institutions for helping to make the project a success.
“We’re all true partners in this,” he said.
Janice M. Plante
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