Tagging of Age 1 Herring ( Clupea harengus L.) and Their Movement Along the Maine and New Brunswick Coasts

Abstract

A method was developed for tagging age 1 herring (Clupea harengus ) and tag recovery results were analyzed for movement patterns. Use of new transport and holding techniques to avoid handling the fish prior to tagging and the use of small yellow, fine fabric, T-bar spaghetti tags (Floy) are considered to be the primary reasons for long-term (> 1 year) survival of a significant proportion of tagged fish. The results strongly suggest that age 1 herring, observed (and tagged) in the western and central waters of Maine during the 3rd and 4th calendar quarters, contributed to the commercial catch of age 2 fish east of the area where they were tagged during the 2nd and 3rd quarters of the following year. Age 1 herring, observed (and tagged) in eastern most Maine and western New Brunswick waters during the 3rd and 4th quarters, remain in the same area where they contribute to the commercial fishery for age 2 fish during the 2nd and 3rd quarters of the following year.