Tagging Studies of Natural Fish Populations

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To submit tag information via the web use this FORM
Tagging Studies of Natural Fish Populations

Individual tagging of adult fish was first used to mark fish in 1873. Since then tagging has become one of the standard tools used by fisheries research and management agencies to study naturally reproduced fish populations. Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) has about 20 fish tagging studies currently underway on five species with many thousands of fish being tagged each year. Typically, nets are used to capture native adult fish that are subsequently measured, tagged with a readily visible external tag, and released at the netting location. Many different types of metal and plastic tags have been used but they always carry an individual code of numbers and/or letters identifying that particular fish and an address for sending the information to a nearby MDNR office (example). Most tags are attached on the jaw, gill cover, or near fins along the back of the fish (example). Information gathered upon recapture of the tagged fish provides information necessary to monitor health of their populations. Fisheries scientists conducting these studies rely upon anglers and commercial fishermen to voluntarily report to MDNR after capturing a tagged fish. Few MDNR tag studies rely solely upon netting survey recoveries of previously tagged fish. For example, a joint tagging study of walleye currently underway in Lake Erie between Michigan, Ontario, Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania has received 7,130 tag recoveries from anglers and commercial fishermen since 1990. This information has been critical to the interagency management of the Lake Erie walleye population. Some of the important ecological questions being addressed by tagging are 1) population size, 2) annual mortality rates and rates of capture by sport and commercial fisheries, 3) geographical distribution and habitat use, 4) individual fish activity pattern, and 5) evaluation of fish stocking and other management practices.

To submit tag information via the web use this FORM

If you prefer mailing the information, please contact:

Robert Haas

Mich DNR

33135 S. River Road

Mt. Clemens, MI 48045

(Metal tags should be flattened completely and taped to the note for secure mailing)

Or phone information to: (586) 465-4771

Essential information collected from successful fishermen with tagged fish includes date of capture, specific location of capture, size and kind of fish, tag number, type of tag, and the fishers name, address, and phone number. Additional types of information that might also be useful would be time-of-day, lure, condition of fish, and biological information such as sex and stomach contents. Fishers that report tagged fish are sent letters of appreciation containing tagging data for their fish so they can learn about the fish and follow some of its movements. This web site offers a convenient avenue for reporting the capture of a tagged fish and for learning about Michigan's fish tagging operations.

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Last Update: 08/09/99