Cash reward for fish with tags

The National Oceanic Marine Resource Authority is offering cash awards to onboard longliners and onboard purse seiners who would find tuna fishes with tags.

Tags are either orange, white, or yellow.

For longliners who find a whole fish with an orange tag, the reward is $250 for an electronic tag, plus $10 for orange tag, plus $10/kg of fish. For a whole fish with a white tag, the reward is $100 plus $10/kg of fish. For a yellow tag, reward is $10 or a tagging cap or a tagging shirt.

For fish with orange or white tags, NOMRA requires that the fish not be gilled and gutted, and for the tags to be left in the fish. A photo of the fish should also be taken, with the tag still inside the fish, on top of a deck tape. The fish should also be measured accurately, and the tag recovery form should be filled. Also contact The Pacific Community via email at carolines@spc.int. NOMRA will buy the whole fish.

The following information should also be noted: date found, tag number, species, fork length, date and position of catch, catcher vessel name and gear type, and the names of the finder, including contact details, and the observer (if onboard).

For onboard purse seiners who find a fish with a tag, the reward is $260 for the finder and $50 for the observer, for an orange tag (plus archival tag and the whole fish). For a whole fish with a white tag, the reward is $100 for the finder and $50 for the observer. For a yellow tag, reward is $10 or a tagging cap or a tagging shirt.

For fish with orange or white tags, NOMRA requires that the tags be left in the fish. The fish should also be placed in the freezer (do not let the fish defrost). Also contact SPC via email at carolines@spc.int, and bring the fish to the closest fisheries office for collection of samples.

Observers are to take a photo of the fish with the tag still inside the fish or on top of a deck tape. The fish should also be measured accurately, and the tag recovery form should be filled. Observers should also seek permission from the captain to place the fish aside, and should immediately contact SPC and the observer coordinator. Samples should also be collected if able, or keep the fish frozen at all times.

The following information should also be noted: date found, tag number, species, fork length (as shown in the photo), date and position of catch, catcher vessel name and gear type, and the names of the finder, including contact details, and the observer (if onboard).

To receive the reward, contact the local fisheries office. If a tag is given to you by someone else, inform SPC. For more information, visit spc.int/tagging.