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44" cow released. Pic: W. Merten
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In 2019, we resumed a study to document the movements of dolphinfish in the Caribbean Sea by deploying satellite tags on adult dolphinfish during the spring run off the Southwest Coast of Puerto Rico. This research builds on earlier tagging work we did in the same area between 2011 and 2014 in which three satellite tags were deployed. In total, 15 satellite tags have been deployed, with 12 deployed since 2019. Of those 12, two were recaptured south of the Dominican Republic, which equates to a 16% recovery rate. Even if we assess the recovery rate based on all PSATs deployed off SW PR, since 2011, two of 15 tags recovered equates to a 13% recovery rate. Both tags were recaptured by anglers fishing FADs south of DR, and in both instances, we awarded those anglers with several hundred dollars to successfully ship us the tags. Aside from the importance of documenting the recovery rate of satellite tagged fish moving west from PR waters, the information gleaned from these tags as well as our ability to refurbish and redeploy the tags enhances our ability to learn more about this important pelagic fish and the dolphinfish fishery in the region. Click more to learn about this cow's movement and how it relates to the bull recaptured in 2019.
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Wahoo Tissues Samples Needed!
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Captain Jesus Duran with a keeper. Photo: W. Merten
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In response to the lack of knowledge and data presented in conjunction with the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council's (SAFMC) Dolphin-Wahoo Fishery Management Plan with respect to wahoo, beginning in 2021, our group made it a priority to address this challenge. Since then, we have deployed four popup satellite archival transmitters on large wahoo, began a regional conventional tagging component for the species (request tags here), initiated research on international fishery trends, and became engaged in a population structure study with a graduate student at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez. Here, we would like to put out a request among our network to aid in wahoo tissue sample collection for that student's research project. Amanda Prieto-Garcia, a master's student majoring in Biological Oceanography at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, intends to estimate the genetic connectivity and diversity of wahoo around Puerto Rico and the Western Central Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea sequencing nuclear DNA from the samples collected. If you catch a wahoo over the next several months please collect a fin clip for her research. Click here to learn more about our overall research on wahoo or here to email us for guidance on sample collection and preservation. Thank you for your consideration and support of this important endeavor!
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July Dolphinfish Recaptures
(click images to enlarge)
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Tag Kit or Shirt Purchases
Help Support Our Work
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About the Beyond Our
Shores Foundation
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Last month we released our 990 for fiscal year 2022. Click here to examine our 2022 financial information. We share this information here as well as on Guidestar.org to document our financial health as a fisheries research nonprofit. Five years ago we formed the Beyond Our Shores Foundation to build the Dolphinfish Research Program. Thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, the DRP is expanding and making a big impact. We also formed the BOSF to continue and grow our work on fish aggregating devices (FADs) in the U.S. Caribbean Sea. Our attention to both programs has led to new published studies, additional information for dolphin and FAD management, enhanced angler participation, and ongoing data collection in Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. We have also expanded our work on new species (wahoo and yellowfin tuna) and fishery topics (submerged FADs). While this work has been met with steady growth in our donor base, tagging program, and fishery research nonprofit, as well as new program sponsors, we need more support to continue to grow. As of last Friday, we have shipped out 330 tagging kits this year. Of those, ten were wahoo tagging kits. Our goal established earlier this year was to distribute 450 kits and 6,000 tags. We are on track to exceed that goal again this year. Last year, we distributed 6,763 tags in 501 kits to 399 anglers in 12 nations. With your participation and support you can help us achieve and exceed our goal by supporting our work. Help support our work by purchasing a kit, shirt, or making a tax-deductible donation via the links below. Thank you for your time and consideration!
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