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What is the ALS Tagging Program and How Can I
Participate?
About the Program
The Littoral
Society's fish tagging program was started in 1965 by Graham Macmillan, a
Society vice president and an avid sport fisherman. After consulting with
fisheries biologists, he set up the program that, with only a few refinements,
has served us well since. The premise of the program is that many fishermen
release much of what they catch, especially those fish with a legal minimum size
such as striped bass and fluke. Why not encourage fishermen to tag those fish
before they release them? Why not develop a whole new breed of angler—one who
fishes and releases routinely? This tagging program would be appropriate for all
the marine gamefish of the coast and for those that run up the coastal rivers.
The Society decided
to make the program self-supporting (i.e., the fishermen would pay the cost of
the program) and to make it as easy as possible. Finally, we also decided that
all data produced would be published and made available to the fisheries
scientists who would use it, and that all taggers and recapturers would hear
about the fish they had released or recaptured. Based on the principles set up
in 1965, the tagging program has grown to be the largest voluntary fish tagging
program in the nation and is recognized by the ASMFC.
How to Participate
Participation in the tagging program is limited to Society
members, individually or through club membership. Membership is $35 for an
individual or family and $50 for a fishing club. Charter captains and their
onboard customers can also participate for the family rate of $35. Once a
member, new taggers will receive a packet of information about how to get
started and a tagging staff available to answer questions. Taggers purchase tag
kits from the Society for $6 per set, including a set of 10 tags, 10 data cards,
an applicator needle and instructions.
For information about how to get started, call Pam at
732-291-0055.
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