GBYP Atlantic-wide Bluefin Tuna Tagging Program

The Large Pelagics Research Center (LPRC) is beginning a new bluefin tagging project this year. We, in partnership with NMFS and ICCAT, are conducting an Atlantic-wide scientific conventional tagging program, called GBYP (Grande Bluefin Tuna Year Program). Under this program, researchers will aim to deploy 15,000 tags in the eastern Atlantic and 4,000 tags in the western Atlantic on age 1-3 bluefin. This study is aimed at determining more accurate estimates of mortality and east/west mixing, which will be used to improve stock assessments.

BUT, THE SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM IS DEPENDENT ON HELP FROM YOU!!!

Since the tags we are deploying are conventional spaghetti tags, we only get the data we need if the tagged tunas are recaptured and reported. To encourage reporting, returned GBYP tags will earn you a t-shirt and from $50 TO $1,000 IN REWARDS!!!! Please see the poster below for all the details (or visit our website www.tunalab.org).

Please help with this valuable research and keep an extra sharp eye out for tagged fish this year! Also, visit our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/lprctunalab) regularly to see reports on recaptured tags – we will post all recaptures, as they come in, so everyone can see the movements of these amazing fish!

INTERESTED IN HELPING OUT EVEN MORE WITH THIS PROJECT?

HELP SPREAD THE WORD! Do you have a place you would like to post the reward flyer? Contact Emily Chandler (echandler@eco.umass.edu) and we will be happy to send you hard copies of the poster for putting up. We have them in both 8.5x11 and 11x17 sizes.

LET US KNOW WHEN YOU COME ACROSS SMALL FISH! As you can image, getting out 4,000 tags on 1-3 year olds will be tough, so we need to try to hit the small fish where ever and whenever they appear. We are looking for fish about 50 inches CFL and less. If you catch any this size, please send Emily Chandler (echandler@eco.umass.edu) a quick email or post on our Facebook Page – we don’t want to miss any big bite of these little guys!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR RESEARCH!

REWARDS

FOR BLUEFIN TUNA TAGS*

US GBYP:
A T-shirt and Orange spaghetti tag: $50
Green spaghetti tag: $200
Electronic tag: $500
All tag returns entered into lottery: $1000 1st draw, $500 2nd & 3rd draws

Please cut off all tags and record:
1. Tag ID number
2. Recovery date
3. Recovery location (lat & long)
4. Curved fork length (over the body length)
5. Round weight (when possible)*Rewards apply only to tags deployed under the 2011-2013 US and ICCAT GBYP programs. U.S. tag ID numbers begin with “BT”. Some fish will have 2 tags, one on each side of the second dorsal fin. Please check both sides of the fish for tags. Other research groups have concurrent tagging programs with their own reward systems.

To claim your reward, return tag and catch data to:

Large Pelagics Research Center 978-283-0368 lprctunalab@gmail.com For electronic tags phone 603-767-2129 OR NMFS/NOAA 800-437-3936 tagging@noaa.gov

For address and more information visit www.tunalab.org

ABOUT LPRC
The Large Pelagic Research Center (LRPC), UMass Amherst is located at the UMass Marine Station in Gloucester, MA. Directed by Dr. Molly Lutcavage, LPRC is part of the UMass Graduate School of Marine Science and the Massachusetts Marine Fisheries Institute. Working closely with fishermen and using state-of- the-art technologies, LPRC conducts biological and ecological research on pelagic species including tunas, sharks, billfish, and sea turtles. We endeavor to develop scientific understanding that supports effective ecosystem-based management strategies for these highly migratory Atlantic marine species. Please visit our website (www.tunalab.org) for more details on our work. If you have any questions, please contact Emily Chandler at 978-283-0368 or echandler@eco.umass.edu. To report a tag recapture, please call Emily at 757- 293-8906 or Molly at 603-767-2129.