TARPON TAGGING

Project Title: Migratory Patterns, Habitat Preferences, and Survivorship of Atlantic Tarpon

Knowledge of tarpon migrations are needed for effective management. Although we know that tarpon are capable of moving long distances, we do not yet know what portion of the population migrates long distances vs stays in relatively small home ranges. We also do not yet know where tarpon spawn.

Tarpon populations have experienced precipitous declines in portions of their US range over the past decades. Port Aransas, Texas, for example, the “1950’s Tarpon Capital” is now virtually devoid of the tarpon numbers that made it so famous. There are concerns as to whether these declines could occur elsewhere. Whereas US fisheries for tarpon are largely catch-and-release, tarpon are prized for their roe in Mexico and Central America. Recent research documented the movement of tarpon across international boundaries and through much of the Gulf of Mexico. This is potentially problematic for developing a comprehensive management plan and for ensuring a sustainable fishery. Even if tarpon are primarily released in US waters, if tarpon that inhabit US water for part of the year are harvested in non-US waters during their migrations, then overfishing may be a concern. Moreover, based on the seasons in which adult tarpon are most common in non-US waters, it is possible that some tarpon are spawning in these areas. Loss of these spawning fish to harvest would negatively impact juvenile abundance.

This project will use satellite pop-up archival transmitting (PAT) tags to track movement of tarpon in coastal waters of the US Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea.

• Total Project Cost: $750,000
• Matching Funds: $125,000
• Requested Funds: $625,000