Monitoring Tarpon: New Monitoring Maps Launched

What was as soon as thought-about the tarpon capital of the world, the northern Gulf of Mexico has seen a drastic lower within the variety of tarpon that inhabit these waters. Nevertheless, which may be altering as a consequence of many Gulf states implementing harvest rules to assist tarpon populations rebound.

In 2019, a group of scientists from Mississippi State College, the College of South Alabama and Louisiana State College teamed up with among the finest tarpon anglers within the northern Gulf of Mexico to launch 22 satellite tv for pc tags on tarpon in Alabama and Louisiana waters. After being tagged the tarpon tow the tags about 2 toes behind them when swimming. These tags transmit location estimates (GPS factors) to satellites when the tarpon surfaces. The tags then ship the knowledge to the scientists’ computer systems.

Whereas scientists have a protracted strategy to go in capturing knowledge to assist piece collectively these mysterious fish, they’ve realized lots over only a few years by means of their tagging efforts.

As an illustration, the tarpon migrate east to west beginning within the spring. Giant populations come from southern Florida the place they search out hotter water over the winter. They journey alongside the Gulf Coast and finally attain Louisiana primarily in the course of the summer time months.

Analysis gathered from the tagging program exhibits that the fish typically journey greater than 50 miles in a single day. Some made pit stops in Cell Bay, however all finally made their strategy to Louisiana, together with one which went into Lake Pontchartrain.

The preferred spots have been the tip of the Louisiana Chicken’s Foot and numerous elements of Chandeleur Sound. The Louisiana-tagged tarpon confirmed related paths. Most have been tagged northwest of the Chicken’s Foot, however they finally made their strategy to the Chicken’s Foot as properly.

Going ahead, scientists plan to start out releasing maps detailing the tracks of this yr’s tarpon tagged by the LSU Fisheries and Motion Ecology Lab with assist from the Grand Isle Tarpon Membership.