REGIONAL TUNA TAGGING PROJECT ­ PHASE 1 PNG

MONTHLY TAGGING SUMMARY ­ AUGUST 2007




TAG RELEASES
No field work has been undertaken since May 2007, therefore the numbers of releases remain
unchanged since the previous report (Table 1).
Table 1. Tag releases, August 2006 - May 2007.

Skipjack Yellowfin Bigeye Total
Conventional tags 40338
20300
633
61271
Archival tags
2
233
48
283
Sonic tags
69
135
18
222
Total
40409
20651
691
61751


TAG RECOVERIES

After a relatively quiet month in July 2007, (210 returns), tag recoveries received a large
boost in August, with 833 conventional tags returned, the third best month of the project to
date (Figure 1). This brings the total number of tag returns to 5,733, with an overall recovery
rate of 9.3%.

Table 2. Conventional tag recoveries, as at 31 August 2007.

Skipjack
Yellowfin
Bigeye
Total
August 1st ­ 31th recoveries 550
258
25
833
Total to August 31th
3407 (8.4%) 2135 (10.3%) 191 (27.6%) 5733 (9.3%)
Note: numbers include returns that were double tagged with conventional and electronic tags.


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In addition, 4 archival and 2 sonic tag recoveries were received in August, bringing the totals
to 30 and 16, respectively (Tables 3 and 4).

Table 3. Archival tag recoveries, as at 31 August 2007.

Skipjack Yellowfin Bigeye
Total
August 1st ­ 31th recoveries -
1
3
4
Total to august 31th
1 (50%) 19 (8.2%) 10 (20.8%) 30 (10.6%)

Table 4. Sonic tag recoveries, as at 31 August 2007.

Skipjack Yellowfin Bigeye
Total
August 1st ­ 31th recoveries -
-
2
2
Total to August 31th
2 (2.9%) 7 (5.2%)
7(38.9%) 16 (7.2%)


Total tag return by month
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
Aug- Sep- Oct- Nov- Dec- Jan- Feb- Mar- Apr- May- Jun- Jul- Aug-
06
06
06
06
06
07
07
07
07
07
07
07
07

Figure 1. Number of tag returns by month.


The August recoveries were dominated by a large delivery of tags from the RD fishing
company in PNG (Table 5). Significant tags recoveries contine to be made by our tag
recovery contacts in Japan, Korea and Thailand. New tag recovery arrangements have been
instigated in Indonesia (Jayapura and Bitung) and Philippines (General Santos City) resulting
in an increase in tag recoveries from these locations.

NATIONAL TAG LOTTERIES

We are planning to conduct a number of national lotteries for tag returns in the near future.
Further information and local publicity regarding these events will be made available through
the local tag recovery contacts.


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Table 5. Number of tag recoveries by source (location found).
Tag return source
August 2007 returns
Total returns
American Samoa
0
5
China 0
1
FSM 0
1
IATTC 0
50
Indonesia 34
34
Japan 60
171
Korea 27
71
Other 0
46
Philippines (direct)
42
56
Philippines (Frabelle)
0
162
PNG (Frabelle)
0
232
PNG (NFA)
0
87
PNG (other)
23
51
PNG (RD)
646
4453
Solomon Islands (Soltai)
0
47
Tagging vessel
0
22
Thailand 1
244
TOTAL
833 5733

Overall, tag recoveries continue to be dominated by PNG flagged or affiliated vessels fishing
primarily in the Bismarck Sea, where most of the tagged tuna were released (Table 6).
However, significant recaptures of tagged tuna continue to be made by all of the major purse
seine fleets (Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Vanuatu).
Table 6. Number of tag recoveries by vessel flag.
Flags
August 2007 returns
Total returns
Non identified
12
185
China 0
10
FSM 0
3
Indonesia 33
35
India 0
1
Japan 60
179
Kiribati 0
5
Korea 27
103
Marshall Islands
0
3
New Zealand
0
1
PNG 663
4726
Philippines 34
300
Solomon Islands
0
57
Taiwan 1
91
United States
0
4
Vanuatu 3
30
TOTAL
833 5733

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TAGGED FISH MOVEMENTS

Updated graphics showing the movements of tagged tuna are shown below in Figures 2­4.
Skipjack continue to show the greatest mobility, followed by yellowfin and bigeye tuna.


Figure 2. Displacements of tagged SKIPJACK > 300 nmi.


Figure 3. Displacements of tagged YELLOWFIN > 200 nmi.


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Figure 4. Displacements of tagged BIGEYE > 100 nmi.


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