The AFANT Research Tagging Program has been running in partnership with Fisheries NT for over 20 years. In recent times, given the consecutive poor wet seasons and COVID disruptions, we have seen a decrease in the number of barramundi being tagged by AFANT volunteers, and a reduction in reports of tagged barramundi being recaptured by the broader community.
Since the early wet season rains, we are happy to report that from late 2020, we have been seeing a real uptick in tagged fish being recaptured, and we are now sending out increasing numbers of recapture certificates and lure prizes.
One recent recapture came in from a local junior angler, Jed Fairchild (pictured below) who caught a tagged barramundi from a Girraween culvert. This fish had originally been tagged by Fisheries NT researchers as part of their scientific monitoring program at the Howard River in July last year. Jed recaptured this fish 190 days later. During that time the little barra had grown 45mm and swum 10km upstream.
Jed’s recapture story is one of many that we receive through our coordination of the Tagging Program and the data collected forms an important part of scientific research in the barramundi fishery. With the recapture coming from one of the many catchments closed to commercial barramundi fishing, recreational data contributions are especially important to help monitor catch rates and other information including fish movement and growth.
Jed will receive a recapture certificate containing the data recorded for the fish, and a Reidy’s/AFANT “I caught a tagged fish” Big B52 lure. These lures are dynamite and are proven big fish catchers!
Congratulations to Jed and to the all of fishers that have recently caught and reported a tagged fish recapture. Your participation in the program is highly valued and we appreciate your support.
If you are interested in learning more about the AFANT Research Tagging Program, check out our new website page: Click Here
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