8171

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 8171
• Author: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
• Title: A Study to Determine the Biological Feasibility of Pit Tags for Endangered Fishes in the Upper Colorado River Basin.
• USFW Year: 1990.
• USFW - Doc Type: Grand Junction, Colorado.
• Copyright Material: NO

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12. No single tag or mark is the 'best' under all conditions. Consequently, it is
important to evaluate a number of tagging systems. Because different sizes of
hatchery-reared and wild fish may have to be marked depending on the
prescribed objective(s) to be accomplished, various tagging systems may have
to be used. Companion studies for other tagging systems on Colorado River
endangered fishes will be conducted starting fall 1989 at Dexter NFH. Other
tagging systems that will be evaluated at Dexter in addition to PIT tags include
V. I. (visible implant) tags, Carlin tags, acrylic dyes, and Floy-anchor tags.
Each tagging system will be evaluated for its suitability and biological
compatibility with a particular size of fish along with other performance
parameters, e.g., retention, readability, tissue healing, fish survival and growth
over time, cost, and difficulty of application. Hatchery-reared Colorado
squawfish, razorback sucker, and bonytail from Dexter NFH will be the three
species evaluated. The information obtained from such a controlled study will
allow researchers to determine the tagging system(s) that would be most
appropriate for a specific size fish. Written protocols should be developed and
workshops conducted to provide guidelines and instruct researchers in the
proper application of the various tagging/marking system(s) used.
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