Gamefish tagging news
Introduction
The New Zealand Gamefish Tagging Programme (GTP) provides information on the size and distribution of fish released by recreational anglers in New Zealand waters. Recaptures provide information on fish growth, distance and direction of movement, time at liberty and in some circumstances, the average migration rate of the fish.
The New Zealand Gamefish Tagging Programme was initiated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in 1975 following requests from gamefish clubs. The New Zealand Sport Fishing Council (NZSFC) has supported the programme since its inception, and has purchased and distributed all tags through gamefish clubs since 1992.
The Programme is now a cooperative project between the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), the NZSFC, its affiliated clubs and anglers.
New Zealand’s game fishery
The recreational fishery for large pelagic species is important for many New Zealanders and attracts tourist fishers from around the world. The fishery operates mainly over the warm summer and autumn months. The game fishing season in New Zealand starts on 1 July and finished on 30 June the following year.
Relevant information
Below is a collection of reports and news relevant to the tagging programmes for billfish, gamefish and kingfish.
2021
Gamefish tagging news. Which tag to use. Jan 2021
Report on studies to determine the most successful tag types, and which tags best suit each gamefish species. Report from the Gamefish Tagging Programme partners Fisheries New Zealand and NZSFC. January 2021.
2020
Gamefish tagging news. July 2020
Report on the tag and release of billfish and gamefish during the 2019-20 season. Report from the Gamefish Tagging Programme partners Fisheries New Zealand and NZSFC. July 2020.
Mixed Layer. Breakthrough striped marlin study. Tagging trial of 99 striped marlin provides remarkable recapture rates. Article by Dr Julian Pepperell. February 2020. Read more.
2019
Report. NZ Billfish and gamefish tagging 2017 to 2019. FNZ. Oct 2019
Report on the tagging, release and recapture data for billfish and gamefish tagged between 2016-17 and 2018-19. FNZ October 2019.
2018
Striped marlin archival tagging research. Paper. Domeier et al. 2018
First marlin archival tagging study suggests new direction for research. Domeier et al. Marine and Freshwater Research. 7 December 2018
2016
Report. Gamefish tagging data 1975-2014. MPI. Apr 2016
A report on the gamefish tagging data collected between 1975 and 2014 due to the Gamefish Tagging Programme. MPI. April 2016.
2015
Gamefish tagging news. July 2015
Report on the 2014-15 gamefish season. Report of the Gamefish Tagging Programme by the joint parties MPI and NZSFC. July 2015.
2014
Kingfish gamefish tagging data 1975 – 2014. GTP. 2014
Report. Synthesis of New Zealand Gamefish Tagging Data for yellowtail kingfish. 1975 to 2014. Gamefish Tagging Programme. 2014.
Gamefish tagging news. Dec 2014
Report on the 2013-14 gamefish season. Report of the Gamefish Tagging Programme by the joint parties MPI and NZSFC. December 2014.
Gamefish tagging news. April 2014
Report on the 2013-14 gamefish season. Report of the Gamefish Tagging Programme by the joint parties MPI and NZSFC. April 2014.
Report. NZ Billfish and gamefish tagging 2012-13. MPI. Feb 2014
Report on the release and recapture data for billfish and gamefish tagged in the 2012-13 season. MPI. February 2014.
2012
Gamefish tagging news. June 2012
Report on the tag and release of billfish and gamefish during the 2011-12 season. Report from the Gamefish Tagging Programme partners MPI and NZSFC. June 2012.
2010
Tag and release programme. NZSFC. 2010
A description of the Gamefish Tagging Programme to monitor the tag and release of billfish and sharks. Gamefish Tag NZ – NZSFC. 2010
Gamefish tagging programme outline. GTP. 2010
Outline of the New Zealand Gamefish Tagging Programme, a cooperative project between the Ministry of Fisheries and the NZ Sport Fishing Council and clubs. 2010.
Kingfish tagging procedure. GTP. 2010
A brief outline of the yellowtail kingfish tagging procedure. Gamefish Tagging Programme. June 2010.