Overview of Angler‐based Tagging Programs and Management Issues

• Published in: Fisheries (Bethesda) 2000-04, Vol.25 (4), p.8-13
• Main Authors: Loftus, Andrew J., Waldon, Jeff, Fay, Virginia, Davy, Kay, Lucy, Jon
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0363-2415; 1548-8446
• DOI: 10.1577/1548-8446(2000)025<0008:OOATPA>2.0.CO;2

Within the fisheries management community, there is growing interest and concern about the practice of allowing volunteers to tag and release fish. While organized volunteer angler‐based tagging programs have been in existence for at least 40 years, its practice has been most prevalent in marine fisheries. Recent concern over the production and distribution of inexpensive tagging kits through sporting goods retailers has raised the concern that the practice may expand in inland waters where it may not be legal or condoned by state agencies. Proponents of angler‐based tagging programs argue that large amounts of data can be collected while engaging the angling community in catch‐tag‐and release fisheries. Opponents claim that the untrained taggers are more likely to injure fish, that the quality of the fishing experience may be diminished by increasing the number of marked or scarred fish, and that such programs interfere with management/research tagging efforts. A summary of angler‐based tagging programs and the results of a brief survey of fisheries agencies about the legality of tagging are presented, as well as a presentation of a “tag registry” and recommendations for model tagging programs.