Tagging activities

The tagging is considered extremely important because it can provide better estimates of natural mortality rates (M) by age or age-groups and/or total mortality (Z), particularly when a conventional tagging activity is carried out for several years with a high intensity. In addition, it can provide also growth estimates. Electronic tagging is usually use to investigate the species habitat utilisation and movement (migration) patterns.

The conventional tagging activities were mostly developed in Phase 2, whereas electronic tagging has been the choice thereafter. Tagging within GBYP has covered a wide geographical area of the Atlantic Ocean.

The tagging activity is revised and refined every year, depending on the difficulties and opportunities, but also on the budget availability.


GBYP Tag Recovery, Awareness Activities and Rewarding

Tag awareness activities, which are essential for the success of large tagging activities, have been developed by the GBYP for improving the tag recovery and reporting rates. The latter is not only important from the scientific point of view, but also from the economic one, considering the high investments associated to these activities, mainly in the case of the electronic tagging, in which the cost of purchase and deployment of each individual mark amount to several thousands of euros.

Accordingly, the Programme carried out a wide awareness campaign including improved rewards, up to 1000€ for electronic tags and 50€ or Programme T-shirts in the case of conventional tags, as well the participation in an annual lottery with awards of 1000€ for the 1st prize and of 500€ for the 2nd and 3rd. Several types of posters in 12 languages and other advertising material have been distributed to many collaborative entities. Tag awareness videos in seven languages are also available in youtube ICCAT GBYP tag recovery channel, while high quality videos and spots can be requested for free directly to gbyp@iccat.int.

If you need any additional awareness material, please contact gbyp@iccat.int.

ICCAT GBYP tag recovery channel

Documents
Year Document
2010 Tagging Manual
2010 Tagging Design
Year Document
2022 SCRS/2022/069 Aarestrup et al. Electronic Tagging Data and Future Plan
2022 Aarestrup et al. Tagging Data on Large BFT Returning to Nordic Waters
2018 SCRS/2018/174 Tensek Shiny Application GBYP Electronic Tags
2018 SCRS/2018/173 Tensek et at. Temperature Depth Analysis Electronic Tags
2017 SCRS/2017/192 Tensek Electronic Tags Database Shiny
2017 SCRS/2017/131 Carruthers et al. Electronic Tags Atlantic to Mediterranean Migration
2017 SCRS/2017/045 Galuardi et al. Electronic Tags Transition Matrices
2017 SCRS/2017/042 Tensek et al. GBYP Tagging in Phase 6
2016 SCRS/2016/205 Carruthers Electronic Tags Stock Specific Movements
2016 SCRS/2016/143 Di Natale et al. Conventional Tagging Data Growth and Displacements
2016 SCRS/2016/138 Tensek et al. GBYP Electronic Tagging 2011-2015
2015 SCRS/2015/193 Addis et al. Electronic Tagging Sardinian Trap
2015 SCRS/2015/181 Mariani et al. Underwater Tagging Size Estimates
2015 SCRS/2015/170 Lauretta et al. Electronic Tagging Data Summary
2015 SCRS/2015/149 Di Natale et al. GBYP Tagging Phase 5
2015 SCRS/2015/146 Quilez-Badía et al. Additional Variance in Aerial Survey Based on Electronic Tags
2014 SCRS/2014/189 Mariani et al. Conventional Tagging Purse Seine
2014 SCRS/2014/184 Quilez-Badía et al. WWF Tagging 2008-2013
2014 SCRS/2014/177 Galuardi et al. Electronic Tags for Transition Matrices Population Models
2014 SCRS/2014/136 Serna et al. Tagging in Gibraltar Strait
2014 SCRS/2014/048 Di Natale et al. GBYP Tagging Activities 2001-2014
2013 SCRS/2013/196 Abid et al. Tagging Moroccan Trap
2013 SCRS/2013/180 Addis et al. Conventional Tagging Sardinian Trap
2013 SCRS/2013/177 Di Natale et al. GBYP Tag Recovey up to Sep 2013
2013 SCRS/2013/172 Serna et al. GBYP Tagging Campaign Golf of Lion Strait of Gibraltar 2011-2012
2012 SCRS/2012/143 Quilez-Badía et al. GBYP Tagging in Morocco