TAG at the ICCAT SCRS Intersessional Meeting in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

Last week I joined the United States Delegation and a group of international researchers, including TAG Researcher, Dr. Andre Boustany, and former TAG Director, Shana Miller, at an intersessional meeting for the International Committee for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna’s (ICCAT), Standing Committee on Research and Statistics (SCRS).  The focus of the meeting was to review and discuss bluefin tuna biological parameters for stock assessment purposes. The meeting was held from May 7-13, 2013 at the Oceanographic Center of the Spanish Institute of Oceanography in Canary Islands. 

Participants from the ICCAT Standing Committee on Research and Statistics (SCRS) at the 2013 intersessional meeting on Bluefin Tuna Biological Parameters in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.  

Among other objectives, we were tasked with assessing biological information available for the 2015 Atlantic bluefin assessment, reviewing basic biological assumptions and relationships, evaluating the reliability of existing and historical information about bluefin biology and fisheries, and discussing opportunities for incorporating relevant data into ICCAT databases.  We were divided into thematic working groups to discuss bluefin size conversions (e.g. length to weight, curved fork-length to fork-length), age conversions (e.g. growth curve, aging), reproduction (e.g. sex ratio, maturity, fecundity and spawning), natural mortality, and population structure and stock mixing (e.g. genetics, tagging, stock-age key tables).

TAG team and alumni at Volcan El Teide (3718 m) in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.  From left to right: TAG Scientist Dr. Andre Boustany, former TAG Director Shana Miller, and TAG Director Dr. George Shillinger 

The first two days of the meeting involved a series of thematic presentations and discussions intended to provide an update about existing knowledge regarding Atlantic bluefin biological and fisheries research.    The remainder of the meeting was devoted to working group breakout sessions and plenary discussions, during which working groups drafted and presented content for inclusion within a report that will be presented at the ICCAT Bluefin Stock Assessment Methods meeting in Boston during July 2013.  The results from the meeting will also be used to inform the SCRS position at the meeting of the “Working Group of Fisheries Managers and Scientists in support of the Western Bluefin Tuna Stock Assessment” to be held in Montreal, Canada, June 26 to 28, 2013.

TAG North Carolina 2013 – It’s a wrap!

Tag-A-Giant North Carolina 2013 – It’s a wrap!

TAG wrapped up another season in North Carolina on April 3, 2013.  Despite some challenging weather and scrappy fishing conditions, we managed to squeeze in six fishing days on the Sensation, during which we tagged five bluefin tuna (3 fish double-tagged with acoustic and archival tags, one fish double-tagged with a PAT and archival tag, and 1 fish tagged with an acoustic tag). We caught one particularly large tuna (234 cm CFL ~ 550 lbs) but the other fish were all in the 200-250 lb range.

As always, TAG North Carolina delivered on excitement, camaraderie, and adventure --- with some good fishing in the mix too.  I’ve shared a few of these memories below.

Herbert C. Bonner Bridge

A classic North Carolina fishing day out of Oregon Inlet starts early --- with views of dawn bursting over Pamlico Sound.  We punch through the spans of the Herbert C. Bonner Bridge (2.7-mile bridge built in 1963) point towards the Gulf Stream, threading the shoals as we go.

Departing Oregon Inlet through the Herbert C. Bonner Bridge at dawn.

Reeling for Research

TAG welcomed a team of three ‘Wills’ (Will Graham, Will Herring, and Will Thames) on behalf of the 2012 Reelin’ for Research Tournament winners (lead by Matt Logan).  TAG is proud to sponsor the Reelin’ for Research Tournament through the donation of a Research Charter for tournament winners. The 5th Annual Reelin’ for Research Tournament begins Saturday, May 4th, 2013, with the goal of “fighting” to “land” a cure for the kids!  This year the tournament hopes to raise $500,000!  To learn more about Reelin for Research, please visit: http://www.reelinforresearch.org/   

The three ‘Wills’ – Will Thames (left), Will Graham (center), and Will Herring (right) join the TAG team on a special TAG Research Charter donated to the Reelin’ for Research Tournament.

Windy weather and sloppy seas were frequent during the 2013 TAG North Carolina deployment

Although we didn't catch any tuna with the Reelin’ for Research team, we enjoyed some excellent wildlife viewing, including pilot whales and breaching humpback whales!

Humpback whale breaching in the Gulf Stream off the Outer Banks, North Carolina.

Humpback whale breaching in the Gulf Stream off the Outer Banks, North Carolina.

On March 31, we were joined by a team from Durham, North Carolina -- Jen Poole, Samir Arora, and Ted O'Hanlan.  Also onboard were three recently rehabilitated turtles (one loggerhead, and two juvenile Kemps Ridleys) , whom we released into the warm waters of the Gulf Stream on behalf of the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island (NCARI)
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TAG Director, Dr. George Shillinger, prepares to release a rehabilitated juvenile Kemp’s Ridley turtle into the Gulf Stream

Alan ‘Big Country’ Scibal and Dr. George Shillinger release a rehabilitated loggerhead turtle into the Gulf Stream.

 During three of our six fishing days, we caught, tagged, and released bluefin tuna.

TAG researchers, Dr. Andre Boustany (left) and Dr. George Shillinger (right) deploy both an archival and acoustic tag on a North Carolina bluefin.

TAG researchers, Dr. Andre Boustany (inserting tag) and Dr. George Shillinger (irrigating fish) tag a North Carolina bluefin

We were joined by several other friends of TAG, including Richard Montana (co-founder of the Reelin’ for Research Tournament), and TAG supporter, John Pazienza, who travelled from Florida to join for two days on the water.

 Alan ‘Big Country’ Scibal waits while Richard Montana fights a bluefin on the Sensation.

Dr. Andre Boustany assesses a tuna while Dr. Shillinger prepares a tag for deployment.

Captain Charles Perry (‘CP’) stands ready as anglers John Pazienza and Alan Sciabal fight a bluefin double-header on the Sensation.

‘Big Country’ takes a wrap as angler John Pazienza fights from the chair and Dr. George Shillinger (with liphook) and Dr. Andre Boustany prepare to deck and tag the fish.

TAG Director, Dr. George Shillinger and TAG scientist Dr. Andre Boustany measure a bluefin. 

In addition to the humpback whale show, we had a close encounter with a big basking shark.

‘Big Country’ watches as a big basking shark swims past the Sensation.

As anglers and scientists, we know that successful fishing is never guaranteed – anytime we travel anywhere to tag fish.  However, one thing is certain for sure with TAG North Carolina – great camaraderie and an awesome opportunity to partake in a globally important research initiative!

From left to right, First Mate Alan ‘Big Country’ Scibal, Captain Dale Britt, TAG Director, Dr. George Shillinger, and TAG Scientist, Dr. Andre Boustany gather for a family-style seafood pasta dinner.

The TAG 2013 North Carolina Team at Oregon Inlet -- From left to right, First Mate Alan ‘Big Country’ Scibal, TAG Director, Dr. George Shillinger, TAG Scientist, Dr. Andre Boustany , Captain Charles (‘CP’) Perry, and Captain Dale Britt, stand in front of the FV Sensation.

We owe a special debt of gratitude to all whom have contributed their time, energy, and passion to furthering the research mission and vision of Tag-A-Giant.  We appreciate your support and look forward to TAG North Carolina 2014!

Blustery weather and a bigeye

Our TAG team took advantage of another morning of good weather, and headed back to The Point with a much smaller entourage of boats as dawn broke over the Outer Banks.  We anticipated that fishing conditions would deteriorate by mid-afternoon – with forecasts calling for light morning winds (5-10 kts) increasing to 20-25 kts, risings seas, and rain.

   

As the fishing cooled and the weather intensified, Captain CP attempted to enhance the sluggish bite by chunking menhaden (aka 'fatback", "bunker", "shad", or "pogy") and reloading the flatlines with these enticing baits.  Although these efforts didn’t elicit a bluefin bite – they caught the attention of a ~ 130 lb bigeye tuna – a rare catch for late winter fishing off the Outer Banks!

Alan ("Big Country") Scibal prepares pogies for chunking.

Unfortunately, the weather forecast was right on target. By 2:00 p.m. the winds had increased to 20+ kts and the skies had grown heavy with rain.  We called it a day and headed back to Oregon Inlet, hopeful that optimal fishing would return soon.

Surfers enjoy the waves at Nags Head while we wait to tag tuna.

TAG Outer Banks (OBX), North Carolina – 17th Season Underway!

The TAG team assembled in North Carolina’s Outer banks alongside a cadre of State, Carolina, and Duke fans, as March Madness descended upon the Tar Heel State.  TAG’s 17^th season in North Carolina was finally underway following weeks of weather delays.

Captains Charles Perry ("CP") and Alan (‘Big Country”) Scibal steered our tagging vessel, Sensation, through the treacherous waters of Oregon Inlet on a two-hour run to offshore fishing grounds at ‘The Point’.   We were joined by the greater part of the North Carolina charter fleet, a flotilla of center console boats, wave-runners, and jet-skis. 

 Angler Richard Montana battles the first bluefin of TAG’s 2013 North  Carolina season under Captain Alan (“Big Country”) Scibal’s watch.

Despite optimal weather and fishing conditions, fishing was challenging.  CP and Big Country managed to put us on top of fish all afternoon.  We caught and tagged (acoustic tag) our first fish (~ 200 lb.) at 9:15 a.m., after trolling a green and white sea witch lure along the warm side of the break.  Angler Richard Montana landed the fish following a 20 min battle.  Our second fish, another ~ 200 pounds, was caught, tagged (acoustic), and released at 12:45 p.m., following a 30 min fight.

Veteran tagger Dr. Andre Boustany (left) irrigates a 200 lb bluefin as TAG Director Dr. George Shillinger (right) deploys an acoustic tag.

We marked fish all afternoon and observed boats on all sides fighting fish.  Following two shortbites on the flatlines (baited with ballyhoo), we hooked our third and final bluefin of the day – also on the flatline.  This bluefin arrived as part of a doubleheader, accompanied by a 25 lb wahoo – an unusual combination of tropical and temperate pelagic fishes, rarely caught together.

Sea Surfing “Wave Glider” to Search for Bluefin Tuna and Striped Bass off the North Carolina Coast

The Wave Glider Carey begins her latest mission

A mobile robot called a Wave Glider outfitted with acoustic receivers to detect free-swimming tagged fish was put in the ocean off the coast of Beaufort, North Carolina today. The glider was launched from the Duke ship R/V Susan Hudson outside the Beaufort Inlet by Drs. Dick Barber and Joe Bonaventura of Duke University.  The Glider is part of a collaborative experiment to test the capacity of the unmanned robot designed for biological ocean observation, to detect where animals are in relationship to ocean conditions. For this first test off the North Carolina seaboard, scientists from Stanford, Duke and Eastern Carolina University are working together to listen for tagged bluefin tuna, striped bass and sturgeon that overwinter in North Carolina waters.

Monitoring marine species is valuable not only for the data about their whereabouts but also to better understand our changing oceans and climate. These species can act as roving reporters providing knowledge of their presence or absence in relationship to ocean conditions.  Bluefins and striped bass overwinter in the coastal waters of North Carolina to feed on Menhaden an oily forage fish that is a coastal favorite of both species.

“I am really enthusiastic about the role of the Wave Glider, this new ocean robot, to help us detect where fish are” said Dr. Barbara Block a professor from Stanford University. “We’ve been tagging bluefin tuna for years, through the Tag-A-Giant program, off the Carolina coast and we’re now moving into the phase of developing techniques to long-term monitor their presence or absence along the eastern Seaboard. The glider provides an opportunity to experiment with how to do this in the rough winter conditions of the Hatteras coastline.”

The TAG team tags a giant bluefin

The bluefin tunas Block is searching for were tagged with long-term acoustic tags in Canada this past summer and fall. Block estimates there are over 50 bluefin with tags roaming the Atlantic seas, and is hoping that the hot spot region off Carolina will attract the tagged fish into the region. She and her team have studied bluefin tuna for years determined previously this foraging hot spot is like a favorite restaurant where the tunas tend to gather from several populations roaming in the North Atlantic. By deploying the Wave Glider in this region, they hope to hear the tags’ acoustic pings, which allow them to detect and identify individual tunas.

In addition, ECU professor Roger Rulifson is leading a team on the R/V Cape Hatteras, an NSF ship managed by Duke University, which will be out tagging stripped bass acoustic tags.  “We hope that the Glider can pick up some of the new animals we’re releasing in the next few weeks and help monitor the presence of a variety of fish and sharks we’ve been tagging in the region the past few years,” said Rulifson.  Like Barbara, he is investigating how mobile receivers can aid in the teams capacity to monitor where fish are in the rough winter conditions off the Carolina coast.

Duke University Professor Dick Barber stands with the Carey glider

The glider is was deployed by two of Block’s mentors, Drs. Joe Bonaventura and  Dick Barber from Duke University, where Block got her Ph.D. in 1986. “Ocean Observation is critically important, and I am pleased to see the next steps in biological observation being tested here off North Carolina,” says Professor Dick Barber. “I was fortunate to know Frank Carey, the pioneering tuna scientists from Woods Hole Oceanographic, and a Duke Post-doc, after whom the Carey Glider was named, and he would be very pleased to know of the experimental importance of this mission- chasing Atlantic bluefin and striped bass off our coast”. 

The Wave Glider is manufactured by Liquid Robotics of Sunnyvale California. The project is funded by a Rolex award to Block, The Tag A Giant Fund, Duke University, Stanford University and Liquid Robotics.

The Shogun Returns

The Shogun team collecting bluefin moved into the second half of the trip focused on tagging bluefin and collecting bluefin and yellowfin tuna. They searched the ocean on the US side of the border and moved back and forth between the waters south of San Clemente Island and Mexican waters. During the day they connected with a large school of bluefin tuna that Captains Aaron and Cole were able to put the team on. Once there tagging commenced and approximately 30 fish were released. A new load of bluefin was collected with fish that were just ranged from 14-25 lbs. 40-50 lb fish were also mixed with the school. It was a great day of fishing, and an enthusiastic crew working together with the scientists managed to get all the tags out- and collect a load of fish for scientific study.

-Dr. Barbara Block

Ted Dunn owner of Shogun, Dr. Block and Chuck Farwell enjoying sunset on Shogun after a super day of tagging and collecting bluefin In October off the waters of San Diego! 

We could have tagged. 100 if we had only had tags!

The Shogun back in San Diego

Alex prepares to move bluefin from the hold

Moving fish

Bluefin swimming in the pool

The movers and the shakers - Nick, Ben, John and Dane

5 for 5

Bluefin tuna circling before getting tagged

TAG Director Dr. George Shillinger, Robbie Schallert and Captain Dennis Cameron measuring a 259 cm bluefin

Dr. George Shillinger and Robbie Schallert discussing tagging operations

Guest angler Keith Brander battles a bluefin tuna

Dr. Shillinger deploys an acoustic tag

Final sunset over Northumberland Strait

Team Canada, including guest angler Keith Brander and Halifax native Naomi Pleizer, had another epic day on the water...5 hooked and 5 fish left the F/V Bay Queen IV with electronic tags. The bite happened around 2 pm with all three boats (Bay Queen IV, Carrie Anne and Nicole Brandy) simultaneously hooked up. The Bay Queen IV hooked two more fish just before sunset on a flat calm day in the Northumberland Strait.