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NEWTAG REPORT

Stan Konstantaras

Following are a few proposals that NSW Fisheries/NEWTAG are examining for inclusion in ANSA NSW Sportfish Tagging program. Further discussions with John Diplock and his research team will determine the priority and start time of the proposals. NEWTAG will be operating under the supervision of NSW Fisheries Animal Care and Ethics Committee, and NEWTAG aims to assist in all facets of Fisheries Research, from ensuring all taggers are trained in accordance with our Tagging Work Instructions to collecting of samples and all types of tagging.

NEWTAG could assist NSW Fisheries in the following areas with research:

 

Ø  Tagging of Eastern Cod to determine the movements and mortality.

Ø  Tagging of Snapper to determine movements and hook mortality, now that the size limits are set to increase.

Ø  Tagging of Mulloway to determine national movements, in conjunction with AUSTAG, ANSA National tagging program.

Ø  Tagging of Southern Black Bream.

Ø  Tagging of Flathead, primarily large females to determine hook mortality and movements.

Ø  Encouraging all ANSA members to use circle type hooks when live baiting for billfish, recording of hook locations and tagging in accordance with NSW Fisheries/NEWTAG Gamefish Tagging Work Instructions, to determine hook mortality and movements.

Ø  Tagging of Bass to determine hook mortality and movements.

Ø  Collecting of trip data, which will become an integral part of tagging for NEWTAG participants, and will provide NSW Fisheries vital catch per unit of effort data.

 

Strict controls will be placed on participants of the program, and ensure ANSA NSW members are well trained and able to assist NSW Fisheries in vital research Any of the proposed tagging has to be done as part of an approved research program and therefore all the proposals will be subject to scrutiny for full scientific rigour before being approved.