Prince Edward Island Fishermen's Assoc.

FSRS and DFO Collaborate on Mackerel Tagging Project

The Fishermen and Scientists Research Society (FSRS) was contracted by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) for a second year to tag mackerel along the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia and off the west coast of Newfoundland. The goal was to tag up to 2,000 mackerel from fishing vessels in the St. Margaret’s Bay, Pubnico, Canso and Dingwall areas of Nova Scotia and up to 5,500 mackerel from a large purse seiner off the west coast of Newfoundland. The overall purpose of the project is to learn more about the movements of this fish stock.

The initial plan in Nova Scotia was to send FSRS Fisheries Technician Tricia Pearo out on vessels to tag 500 mackerel per day. Unfortunately, the fishermen were experiencing low catches and the mackerel tended to be small and, therefore, tagging at this level was not feasible. A new strategy was needed and the fishermen quickly came up with a solution, suggesting that a number of individual fishermen be given tags and tagging guns and trained on how to do the tagging. They would then tag mackerel when the opportunity presented itself, for example when handlining. Thanks to their efforts, over 150 fish were tagged.

In early October Tricia Pearo headed to Newfoundland to do mackerel tagging aboard a purse seiner and to teach them how to do the tagging so that they could continue the tagging after she left. She enjoyed the hospitality of Chester McCarthy and his crew aboard the Gemini No. 1 and, despite poor weather limiting time at sea, she was able to tag 989 mackerel. Chester also tagged 1,000 mackerel. Although we did not achieve our goal of tagging 5,500 the effort was worthwhile and we are already starting to get tag returns.

The FSRS is also administering the tag reward program for the project. Anyone finding a tag is asked to return it to the address on the tag along with the following information:
• Date and location of capture (lat. and long., fishing ground, etc.);
• Method of Capture if possible; and
• Their name, phone number and mailing address so we can send them their reward.
A $10 reward will be given for each tag returned with the required information.

A tagging study to learn more about the movements of this important species has long been an interest of industry and they are pleased that funding was available again this year do continue the project. DFO Mackerel Biologist François Grégoire hopes that this will be an on-going project and collaboration betweeen DFO, the FSRS and the fishing industry.

For additional information about the mackerel tagging project, contact François Grégoire, DFO, at (418) 775-0589, Francois.Gregoire@dfo-mpo.gc.ca or Patty King, FSRS General Manager, at (902) 876-1160, pmdservices@eastlink.ca.