Tagged fish movements traced

Press, 16 November 1977, Page 26

Tagged fish movements traced

Wellington reporter

New Zealand’s big game fishermen are participating in a Pacific-wide co-operative tagging programme. It is intended to trace the movements and establish the population limits of marine game fish species, particularly marlin. During the last two years. 64 fish have been tagged, and three have been returned in New Zealand waters so far. Although striped marlin are the primary targets, many mako sharks have been tagged also. Two mates recovered had travelled 80km north (in 127 days) and 300 km south (in 306 days) from their release points in the Bay of Islands. [ The third fish, a yellowtail. was also released in the Bay of Islands and was recovered off Tapu. near Thames, 234 days later. The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has urged commercial fishermen to watch for the bright yellow tags, particularly in the small makos which may be accidentally hooked on long lines. A considerable increase in the numbers of fish released under the scheme is expected this summer, as interest in it increases and more charter [and private game fishing [boats carry tagging equipment.