Evaluation of visible implant elastomer tags for tagging juvenile gilthead seabream (Sparus auratus L.); effects on growth, mortality, handling time and tag loss

The use of the fluorescent visible implant elastomer (VIE) tagging system in juvenile gilthead seabream, Sparus auratus L., between 7 and 18 g was examined. Four different colours (red, green, orange and yellow), three body positions (dorsal, lateral and caudal) and two orientations (horizontal and vertical) were tested. The mean tag application time for each fish was 15.7±0.32 s. There was no mortality associated with the method of tagging. The most visible tag colour was red. Injection orientation had a significant effect on length, width, fragmentation and fluorescent intensity of the tag. Horizontal tagging is recommended because of high fluorescent intensity, low fragmentation and for double tagging. There were no differences in growth between untagged controls and the VIE‐tagged fish.     

Tagging: on the use of passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags for the identification of fish

To determine the efficacy of passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags for marking rohu Labeo rohita (Ham.) in the selective breeding programme, a series of experiments has been carried out at the Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA) under the Indo–Norwegian project of ‘Selective breeding of rohu’. Six groups of rohu fingerlings with weight ranging from 2 g to 20 g were tagged with PIT tags to determine a suitable size range for tagging. Fingerlings weighing 8–15 g were found to be quite suitable for tagging with a PIT tag. Recovery of the PIT tag depends upon the survival of tagged fish under field conditions. Rejection of the PIT tag by rohu was observed to be only 0.05%. Through effective management practice, the survival of tagged fish increased up to 95%, and thus tag loss was minimized.     

Tagging juvenile European whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus (L.)) with passive integrated transponders—Impact of fish size on growth performance and tag retention

The study examined the effect of PIT tagging and size on the growth, survival, food conversion, tag retention and wound healing in juvenile European whitefish. Three size classes of juvenile whitefish (class S—body weight (b.w.) approx. 4.0 g; class M—b.w. approx. 8.0 g; class L—b.w. approx. 13.6 g) were tagged with PIT implanted intraperitoneally (TROVAN^®, United Kingdom). These groups formed S‐P, M‐P and L‐P respectively. Fish from the control groups (groups S‐C, M‐C and L‐C) were not tagged. Whitefish from the tagged and control groups were reared for 28 days in recirculating aquaculture systems. Only in the fish from the smallest group (group S‐P) was tagging confirmed to have a negative impact on growth rate and survival, which, after 28 days, was 70% in comparison with 94.4% in group S‐C. The rate of wound healing in all whitefish groups was similar. After 28 days following PIT implantation, all wounds were healed. Short‐term PIT retention (28 days) for all the groups was > 90%, and no differences were noted among groups. In summary, it is recommended that whitefish be PIT‐tagged using the intraperitoneal method after they have attained a body weight > 8 g. Tagging smaller specimens of this species leads to higher mortality.     

Evaluation of visible implant elastomer tags for pathogenesis research in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Two different colours (red and green) of visible implant elastomer (VIE) were used in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). The visibility, location and retention of the VIE tags was investigated and any adverse effects on fish survival and growth determined. The use of VIE tags for monitoring individual fish during a bacterial challenge with either Streptococcus agalactiae or S. iniae was also studied. The results showed that VIE treated fish were lighter but not shorter than the non‐tagged control fish and that tagging caused no mortality. The retention of tags was better at the base of pectoral fin followed by the nasal area, lower abdomen, upper abdomen and branchiostegal rays inside the operculum. During the bacterial challenge experiment individual animals could be easily identified using the VIE tags. In this preliminary study, VIE tagging appears suitable for Nile tilapia research, as with other fish species, and could be a novel method to identify individual animals during microbial pathogenesis studies.     

Tagging effects on three non-native fish species in England (Lepomis gibbosus, Pseudorasbora parva, Sander lucioperca) and of native Salmo trutta

Abstract –  To address the dearth of information on tagging effects and long-term survivorship of tagged fish in native and introduced species, laboratory and field investigations were undertaken on three non-native fish species (pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus ; topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva ; pikeperch Sander lucioperca ) tagged with coded-wire (CW), passive integrated transponder (PIT), radio (RT) telemetry and/or acoustic tags (AT), with survivorship of native brown trout ( Salmo trutta ) examined in the field. Laboratory results revealed high survivorship following tag attachment/insertion and resumption of feeding within 24–48 h of tagging (all mortalities could be attributed to an unrelated outbreak of fungal infection), with retention rates being high in both pumpkinseed and pikeperch but low in topmouth gudgeon (excluded from field studies). In the field, short-term post-operation survival was high in pikeperch, pumpkinseed and brown trout. In pumpkinseed and trout, 100% of RT fish survived a 24–30 day tracking study, with 60% and 80%, respectively, recaptured alive at least 3 months post-tagging. Of PIT tagged pumpkinseed, 44% were recaptured (after 6–18 months), with small-sized, CW-tagged fish (0.38 g weight) captured up to 1 year after tagging. In pikeperch, all AT fish except one (the smallest specimen) survived their full expected tracking period (i.e. tag life) – the single lost specimen survived at least half of its expected tracking period (i.e. 6 month battery life). Overall, the tagging methods used were highly effective in pumpkinseed and pikeperch, showing good retention and survival, but PIT tagging of topmouth gudgeon was plagued by low survivorship and tag rejection.     

Effect of visible implant elastomers on the growth,survival and tag retention in juvenile Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus) in laboratory conditions

This study identifies the possibility of using visible implant elastomers (VIE) to tag juvenile Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus). The mean body weight was 2.4 ± 0.4 g, and mean body length 5.5 ± 0.5 cm. Markers in three colours were used: blue, orange and green. Implant elastomers were injected in the rostrum and in the tail shaft. The experiment was conducted over a period of 10 weeks and included also a control group, that is, no tagging. No significant effect of tagging on the specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio and condition factor of juvenile Atlantic sturgeon was observed. The fish in all groups increased their body weight more than 10 times, reaching body weight of 25–28 g. The final survival in all of the groups was approximately 40%. The final tag retention varied depending on the implant colour. The highest retention of 100% was obtained with orange VIE and was significantly different from blue and green. Tag retention was dependent on the place of marking (P > 0.05). A correlation was observed between the applied dye and the place of marking (P = 0.0166). The best results were obtained when marking with orange VIE in the rostrum as all markers were visible after 70 days even without the use of UV light. According to our research, marking with VIE does not negatively affect growth and survival of juvenile Atlantic sturgeon and can be recommended for fish with an initial body weight of approximately 2.5 g in the case of short‐term research.     

Laboratory experiment on survival,growth and tag retention following PIT injection into the body cavity of juvenile brown trout (Salmo trutta)

A laboratory study was conducted to assess the effect of PIT tagging on survival and growth of young-of-the-year brown trout (Salmo trutta) and evaluate PIT tag loss as a function of body size at tagging. Transponders (11.5 mm long and 2.1 mm in diameter) were injected into the peritoneal cavity of fish ranging from 41 to 70 mm fork length (FL) using hypodermic needles. A total of 145 tagged fish and 136 control fish of similar size were reared over 4 weeks. Logistic regressions show that survival rate reached 95% for fish ≥52 mm FL at tagging (with a tag retention rate >70%), and 99% for fish ≥57 mm FL (tag retention rate >80%). No significant effect of tagging on growth (fork length and weight) was detected at the end of the experiment. The specific growth rate varied markedly among PIT-tagged fish regardless of fork length, weight or tag-to-body-weight ratio at tagging. Results suggest that juvenile brown trout larger than 57 mm FL (tag-to-body weight ratio in water <3.4%) can be marked by injection of 11.5 mm PIT into the peritoneal cavity with negligible effects on survival and growth, but this leads to a relatively high tag rejection rate (up to 20%).     

Effects of tagging on migration behaviour,survival and growth of hatchery‐reared Atlantic salmon smolts

The effects of four different tagging methods (PIT, anchor T‐tag, Carlin tag and dummy radio transmitter) on survival, behaviour and growth of Atlantic salmon smolts during their downstream migration were examined in semi‐natural circular channels during a natural migration period in spring. Survival of smolts was high and tagging wounds healed well in all tagging groups. Tag loss rates were generally low, being the highest (2.5%) in the dummy radio transmitter group. Total length and body mass of the tagged and untagged smolts did not differ at the end of the experiment. Migration activity of smolts generally showed similar patterns among the treatments. However, Carlin‐tagged smolts started their migration slightly later than the PIT‐tagged fish, and smolts tagged with Carlin tag or dummy radio transmitter showed less overall migration activity than fish with PIT tag.     

A comparison of the effect of three common tagging methods on the survival of the galatheid Munida rugosa (Fabricius, 1775)

Three tagging methods – T-bar tags, streamer tags and visual implant elastomer (VIE) – were tested on Munida rugosa and survival was monitored for 8 weeks. The VIE technique appeared not to affect survival (95% survival after 60 d). T-bar tags did not significantly affect short-term survival either, but there was a gradual increase in mortality (52% after 60 d) associated with the presence of black necrotic tissue around the tag wound, suggesting delayed mortality due to infection. Streamer tags as applied in the study are not suitable for this species, since short-term mortality was high (38% survival after 10 d). In conclusion, VIE was found to be the best type of tag to use on M. rugosa, although it is not as visible to the casual observer as the other types, which could be an important consideration if recapture reports from fishers are an important element of a mark-recapture study.     

可见植入荧光标记和编码金属标对达乌尔鳇标志效果的初步研究

2011年9月底至2012年5月,采用可见植入荧光标记(VIE)和编码金属标(CWT)标志全长为(28.06±1.79)cm的达乌尔鳇(Huso dauricus),检验了VIE和CWT的标志保持率及其对达乌尔鳇生长和存活的影响。结果显示,经过210 d实验,VIE标志达乌尔鳇吻部腹面,CWT标志达乌尔鳇背部前(第1～2块背骨板间下方肌肉)、中(第6～7块后背骨板间下方肌肉)、后(第11～12块背骨板间下方肌肉)的标志保持率分别为:95.83%、92.00%、92.59%、92.59%。实验中VIE出现破碎、脱落或迁移致使标志可识别性下降;CWT背部中这一标志部位操作最为简便。标志30 d,VIE标志组的保持率较CWT背部不同部位标志组及对照组低,且差异显著(P<0.05),此后31～210 d并无显著性差异。VIE和CWT背部不同部位标志对达乌尔鳇的生长无显著性差异。结果表明,VIE和CWT均可用于标志达乌尔鳇。进行短期大规模达乌尔鳇的标志放流可使用成本相对较低的VIE标志。     

Emigration and mortality of juvenile brown trout in a New Zealand headwater tributary

We investigated juvenile brown trout migration and mortality in a headwater tributary of the Motueka River, New Zealand, by tracking 1000 young‐of‐the‐year passive integrated transponder (PIT) tagged fish over autumn to summer to (i) partition total loss into emigration and mortality and (ii) determine the influence of season and flow on emigration. Fish were tracked using mobile and fixed PIT tag readers. Of the 1000 fish tagged, 173 remained within the Rainy River; emigration contributed 60% and mortality 29% to loss. Only 11% of fish tagged in autumn were predicted to remain in the upper reaches of the stream by early summer, and this agreed with density data collected in a parallel study. We identified a two‐phase downstream migration pattern with early movement of large young‐of‐the‐year fish in autumn (mainly during floods). This was followed by another substantial period of movement in spring (during floods and lower flows) by fish that were initially smaller at the time of PIT tagging. The management implications for damming and fish screening in headwater tributaries are discussed.     

大渡河安谷水电站流域4种增殖放流鱼苗标记方法的初步研究

为了探明适宜大渡河安谷水电站流域增殖放流鱼类标志的方法,在安谷水电站鱼类增殖放流站使用T-tag锚标法(T-tag)、金属线码标法(CWT)和荧光胶体标记法(VIE)分别对四种放流鱼苗(胭脂鱼Myxocyprinus asiaticus、长薄鳅Leptobotia elongate、唇■Hemibarbus labeo和黄颡鱼Pelteobagrus fulvidraco)进行标记。每种鱼苗选择大、小两种规格进行试验。在标记后40 d分别统计了鱼苗的存活率、标记保持率和生长等数据。结果表明:(1)40 d短期标记条件下,CWT和VIE对四种鱼苗的存活率负面影响较小,T-tag对存活率负面影响较大。其中,CWT和VIE对体长50～110 mm小规格放流鱼苗的存活无显著影响,而T-tag导致小规格放流鱼苗存活率显著下降;(2)四种放流鱼苗CWT和VIE标记保持率均显著高于T-tag,其中,除50～80 mm的小规格长薄鳅VIE组标记保持率略低于CWT外,其它各实验组均表现出VIE组大于CWT组;(3)CWT和T-tag标记保持率与标记鱼类生活习性相关性较大,胭脂鱼、长薄鳅标记保持率相对高于唇■、黄颡鱼;(4)三种标记对鱼苗都具有一定的损伤,但与对照组相比标记组存活的鱼苗生长状况均不受影响,其中,四种鱼苗相比唇■的生长速度最快。(5)考虑到T-tag标记具备操作简单、标记快、易辨认等特点,建议使用T-tag标记时鱼苗的全长应大于170 mm。     

中国对虾幼虾荧光体内标记技术研究

2004年7月,采用可视嵌入性荧光标记(Visible i mplant elastomer,VIE)对平均体长为4.75cm的中国对虾幼虾进行第6腹节的两部位标记,以研究VIE标记对中国对虾幼虾的适用性。10个家系的幼虾各取30尾,对其中的15尾进行标记,另15尾作为对照,共标记幼虾150尾。本研究分析了标记对虾和对照组的即时死亡率、生长和标记保持率。结果显示,标记对虾和对照组的即时死亡率低,前者为0.6%,后者无死亡。x2检验显示,二者不存在显著差异(P<0.05);通过对30、60d后体长的单因素方差分析,实验组和对照组在体长方面不存在显著差异(P<0.05),表明荧光标记对生长没有影响;标记后30、60d的标记保持率均很高,达到99%以上。2005年7月,对人工定向交尾建立的108个家系(平均体长为4cm)进行了大规模荧光标记,标记后30、60d的标记保持率均在99%以上,越冬后(210d后),对不同标记部位的标记保持情况进行了统计,标记保持率均在90%以上。     

Experimental assessment of the utility of visible implant elastomer tags in a stock improvement programme for giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) in Vietnam

An important requirement of many breeding programmes for aquaculture species is the ability to identify organisms individually or at least by family. While a variety of external and internal tagging methods have been developed that can provide efficient identifications systems, most have specific drawbacks. The present study assessed the efficiency of an internal tagging method that can be applied to family selection programmes in crustacean species. Experiments were conducted to test the efficacy of applying visible implant elastomer (VIE) tags to juvenile giant freshwater prawn (GFP). The first experiment assessed performance of VIE tags in juvenile GFP of different size classes and stability of tags placed in different positions in the abdomen with different numbers of tags implanted. The second experiment applied VIE tags in a long term, large scale, field‐based farming experiment. The third experiment tested the reliability of the system. Results showed that juvenile GFP at 2 g were of suitable size for VIE tags with no negative effects evidence on growth and survival. Tag retention rates were above 97.8% in all experiments and tag readability rates were 100% with a correct assignment rate of 95% through to mature animal size of up to 170 g.     

编码金属标签对牙鲆(Paralichthys olivaceus)苗种标记的效果

为了开发适宜牙鲆(Paralichthys olivaceus)苗种放流的标志技术,利用编码金属标签(CWT)对不同规格牙鲆苗种进行了标记实验,并从标记死亡率、脱标率、适宜标记鱼规格等方面评价了CWT的标记效果.结果显示,CWT标记3种规格的牙鲆苗种后,脱标均发生在标记后的4d内,其后未再发生脱标现象.小规格苗种[全长为(5.92±0.41)cm]死亡率较高(13％),中规格苗种[全长(8.92±0.36) cm]死亡率为2％,大规格苗种[全长为(12.06士0.62) cm]死亡率为1％.小规格、中规格和大规格苗种脱标率分别为3.3％、2.4％和0.7％.建立了标记死亡率(M)与苗种全长(TL)、体厚度(BT)的关系模型:M=0.7254 TL2-15.3220TL+79.4260 (R2=0.9601);M=1.3627 BT2-15.5610 BT+ 44.4330 (R2=0.9645),为适宜苗种规格选择与标记效果评价提供了依据.今后利用CWT标签进行牙鲆苗种标志放流时,建议选择全长6 cm以上的苗种进行背部肌肉标记,标记对苗种游泳行为和生长无影响,表明CWT是一种适宜在牙鲆大规模标志放流中应用的理想标志方式.     

Evaluation of two anaesthetic agents and the passive integrated transponder tagging system in Octopus vulgaris (Cuvier 1797)

Octopus vulgaris is a species of demand in the market with the potential to diversify European aquaculture. However, this species develops complex social interactions under culture conditions, which may have negative effects on its growth, survival and profitability. In order to understand its behaviour under such conditions, individual tagging systems allow a careful evaluation of biological parameters, such as growth and longevity. The present work describes a combined protocol (anaesthetic and tagging) for implanting subcutaneous passive integrated transponder tags (PIT). The effect of two anaesthetic agents in facilitating octopus handling is assessed: clove oil at 20–40–100 mg L^?1 and ethanol (96%) at 1–1.5–2%. The most suitable body location of PIT tags, its effect on growth and mortality, the addition of a stitch and the PIT retention rate after 2 months in floating cages were evaluated. It was concluded that immersion in seawater with 1.5% of ethanol at 22.3±0.5 °C is a suitable anaesthetic for this species. The results showed that the best‐selected PIT body location was the upper left arm III. No effect of the PIT tagging system was found on growth and survival when tagged and untagged octopuses were compared. It was observed after 2 months that the stitch did not induce an increase in the retention rate and 81–100% tag retention regardless of the dietary treatment.     

Effect of intraperitoneal passive implantable transponder (PIT) tags on the growth and survival of juvenile snapper, Pagrus auratus (Bloch and Schneider)

Abstract. This study examined whether passive implantable transponder (PIT) tags could be used to mark individually juvenile snapper, Pagrus auratus (Bloch and Schneider), without affecting their growth. Fifty juvenile snapper (25 tagged and 25 untagged controls) were placed in each of four 2000–1 tanks. At the start of the experiment the snapper had a mean weight of 59 ± 18g (SD). After 70 days, the mean weight of all fish was 115 ± 31 g (SD) and there was no significant difference between the growth of tagged and untagged fish. Apparent tag loss ranged from 4 to 8%.     

Evaluation of passive integrated transponder tags for marking the bullhead (Cottus gobio), a small benthic freshwater fish: effects on survival, growth and swimming capacity

Abstract –  This study examined potential adverse effects of surgically implanted passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags (12 × 2.1 mm) on bullhead ( Cottus gobio L.) of three different length-classes (I: 50–64 mm, II: 65–79 mm, III: 80–94 mm). During a 7-week laboratory experiment, the rate of PIT tag loss, incision closure time, survival, growth and swimming capacity were tested. The PIT tag weight to fish body weight ratio varied between 1.04% and 4.85%. The mean incision closure time differed significantly among length-classes and varied between 2.8 (I) and 4.3 (III) weeks. Nevertheless, PIT tag retention did not differ among length-classes and was ≥90%. The survival of untagged, sham-tagged and PIT-tagged bullheads was ≥90% and did not differ within or among length-classes. Finally, within each length-class, there was no difference in growth and swimming capacity among treatments. Hence, these results suggest the applicability of PIT tags for individually tagging bullheads ≥50 mm.     

The Effect of PIT Tagging on Survival,Tag Retention,and Weight Gain in Fingerling White Bass

We tagged fingerling white bass, Morone chrysops, with passive integrated transponders (PIT) at two body locations (peritoneal cavity and dorsal musculature) and six weight classes to evaluate survival, tag retention, and weight gain during a 28-day experimental period. The probability of survival (as calculated by logistic regression) was >95% for fingerlings >19 g for both PC and DM. Retention of PIT tags varied between PC and DM tagged white bass in 6 g and 14 g fingerlings. The probability of tag retention was 100% in all sizes of fingerlings tagged PC, and >95% for fish >19 g tagged DM.     

The utility of visible implant (VI) tags for marking tropical river fish

In tropical fisheries where ageing fish is often difficult, tagging programmes offer an important means to estimate growth parameters and mortality rates. The majority of tags are large and attached externally via a puncture in the muscle. These characteristics may cause significant biological effects which bias parameter estimates. Visible implant (VI) tags offer a more benign means to individually mark fish. The utility of VI tags for marking five species of tropical river fish was examined. The results indicate that the tag and tagging operation had no influence on either growth or mortality, although tag retention was poor compared with other studies. For three of the five species, the only suitable tagging location was highly inconspicuous and therefore inappropriate for tagging programmes that rely upon fishermen to return tagged fish. Alternative tagging locations may improve retention rates and the visibility of the tag.