Summary PDF - Gray FishTag Research

2015 Program Summary
To imagine that the Gray FishTag Research program is under a year old and has already seen positive results and
cooperative involvement is truly humbling. As some of you may know, the idea of a multi-species fish tagging
program had been brewing at Gray Taxidermy for several years. We knew that we had the pieces to put it all
together, we just had to find the right time, platform and partnerships to get it off the ground.
After traveling the globe for over two years and talking and listening to fishermen, marina owners, conservation
minded groups as well as marine scientists we felt that our program could connect all parties.
Catch and release fishing has been advocated for some time by sport fishermen around the world. On the
anglers’ side, there seems to be a void of excitement and interaction with the overall fishing experience. The
anglers want photos and a personal connection with their fish. Our version of a fully cooperative multi-species
fish tagging program could fill the void that the angling customers have been looking for while achieving the
highest level of conservation.
We have proven it was just a matter of providing the Captains and crews with the proper support and
equipment (tag sticks, tags, data cards, how-to information, and an interactive website) to effectively involve the
professional fishing community into providing constant, desperately needed data. Tagging has brought the
tools necessary to engage and inform the customers as no other service the boat provides, which produces an
educated and excited customer who is more inclined to become a repeat customer.
And then there is the science aspect…
Scientists have been craving for reliable, obtainable data. Other tagging programs lack the ability or overall
desire to share their data, studies or conclusions. The Gray FishTag Research program will always offer the data
collected for free. We continue to bridge the gap between professional fisherman and the science community.
It’s a win-win for all…
We strongly believe that by introducing an angler to tagging, and allowing them to name their own fish, that
will increase customer awareness and retention. The increased level of informed, repeat customers will benefit
all parties involved in the entire fishing industry as well as the scientific community.
A large reason for the success of our program is due to the Official Research Centers, Captains and mates that
have collectively worked with us this first year. Without the commitment from The Zancudo Lodge, Marina Pez
Vela, Crocodile Bay Resort, Los Sueños Resort and Marina, Grande Alaska Lodge, and more recently Pisces
Sportfishing out of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and their willingness to educate and offer the tagging program to
their customers, we would not have the success we have today. Our contributing sponsors deserve more than a
mention as well as they are a huge factor in our achievements, allowing us to keep this program steaming
ahead. We look forward to 2016.
What is our goal?
The people involved in our program - captains, mates, sponsors, Official Research Centers, all want the same
thing; to ensure the longevity of fishing for the future, for our children, with real decisions coming from real
data. What would the world be like without fishing? Together this team has the ability to get this done like no
other group has ever done.
2015 Program Highlights
SPECIES GROUPS
REGISTERED
Billfish Species
414
Sharks
210
Miscellaneous Fish
165
Tuna Species
16
BILLFISH
SHARKS
MISCELLANEOUS
TUNAS
• Since the programs launch in January 2015, over 8000 Gray FishTag Research tags have been
distributed.
• 45 different species of fish has been registered and named online.
• Successful recovery of 14 Gray FishTag Research (GFTR) conventional tags. (6 recoveries between September 15 and October 15 alone.)
• Successfully deployed of the first ever pop-off satellite archival tag (PSAT) on a Roosterfish (Nematistius
pectoralis). The historic event took place early January 2015 in the waters off of Costa Rica.
• Continuous tag deployments and online registrations from Costa Rica, Mexico, Alaska, as well as a
network of charter boats in South Florida.
The first multi-species fish tagging program
SPECIES REGISTERED
SPECIES
REGISTERED SPECIES
REGISTERED
Blue Marlin (Makaira nigricans)
76
African Pompano (Alectis ciliaris)
1
Atlantic Sailfish (Istiophorus
platypterus)
118
Black Grouper (Mycteroperca bonaci)
2
Pacific Sailfish (Istiophorus
platypterus)
177
Broomtail Grouper (Mycteroperca
xenarcha)
2
Striped Marlin (Kajikia audax)
12
Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus
tshawytscha)
1
White Marlin (Kajikia albidus)
14
Cobia (Rachycentron canadum)
1
Swordfish (Xiphias gladius)
17
Cubera Snapper (Lutjanus cyanopterus )
1
Bigeye Thresher (Alopias
superciliosus)
4
Dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus)
16
Blacktip Shark (Carcharhinus
limbatus)
8
Gag Grouper (Mycteroperca microlepis)
1
Bull Shark (Carcharhinus leucas)
18
Great Barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda)
10
Dusky Shark (Carcharhinus obscurus)
18
Greater Amberjack (Seriola dumerili)
9
Great Hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran)
16
Lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus)
4
Nurse Shark (Ginglymostoma
cirratum)
4
Pac. Black Snook (Centropomus
nigrescens)
6
Sandbar Shark (Carcharhinus
plumbeus)
7
Pacific Crevalle Jack (Caranx caninus)
4
Scalloped Hammerhead (Sphyrna
lewini)
112
Pacific Halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis)
42
Silky Shark (Carcharhinus falciformis)
17
Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus)
1
Spinner Shark (Carcharhinus
brevipinna)
1
Red Grouper (Epinephelus morio)
1
Tiger Shark (Galeocerdo cuvier)
4
Remora (Remora remora)
1
Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus)
1
Roosterfish (Nematistius pectoralis)
52
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus
thynnus)
2
Rough escolar (Ruvettus pretiosus)
1
Blackfin Tuna (Thunnus atlanticus)
2
Snapper species
1
Little Tunny (Euthynnus alletteratus)
7
Tarpon (Megalops atlanticus)
5
Yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus albacares)
5
Wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri)
1
• Achieved numerous recognitions and mentions in industry publications and online media outlets.
• Continued efforts made to disseminate best-release practices for recreationally caught billfish.