Marine

Recoveries of Scottish satellite tags in Scandinavia

September 24, 2015 by Marine Scotland Communications No Comments | Category Marine Directorate Science

However, the battery life of the tags is limited, and only a small portion of the data recorded by the tag can be uploaded via satellite. It is therefore very useful if the tags can be physically recovered. While the battery lasts, radio-signals can guide scientists to the tags, and many were recovered in this way. Once the battery fails though, it is only good luck and the sharp-eyes of beachcombers that can locate the tags; and only their goodwill that makes them contact the e-mail address printed on the tag (although we do offer a small reward).

We have had 14 tags returned to us from Scottish locations, often found by tourists or dog-walkers; these tags were generally recovered only a month or two after they had detached from fish. However, the prevailing winds of the north Atlantic, as well as ocean currents, will tend to carry tags eastward toward Scandinavia. To date we have had five tags returned to us from this region, four from Norway and one from Denmark. These were found a year or two after having detached from the fish.

The map below shows the location and date at which the tag detached from a salmon, together with the location and date of subsequent recovery of that tag, on the coast of Norway or Denmark, coded by colour.

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