Mission 2023: sports fishermen at the service of science
This mission, coordinated by Scientific Angler Tagging Tour aims to mark bluefin tuna that have reached adulthood, but are not too big. The ideal size is around 50 kg.
Huge hunts so early in the season!
Tuna hunts are targeted off the Barcelona coast. Simrad, the event's official partner, is also providing a boat and team to help in the hunt.
The Scientific Angler organization has developed an algorithm that takes into account satellite plankton and temperature readings to find the right spots. Thanks to them, we've saved a lot of time.
A beacon costs 4000 euros
At the team briefing, the organization stresses the scientific importance of the mission and the value of the beacons. The cost of a single beacon is high, due to the miniaturized technologies onboard and the constraints the beacon must undergo.
The equipment must withstand immersion to a depth of 1,500 meters, or a pressure of 150 bars. The system must have sufficient autonomy to last for several months, then automatically detach to return to the surface. This is why the beacons are fitted only by Ifremer scientists, who board the boat for each capture.
Goal achieved: 8 bluefin tuna tagged
After a relentless hunt for tuna on Saturday and Sunday morning with no success, things came to a head on Sunday afternoon and 8 tuna were brought to the various boats to be tagged by the Ifremer team with great success.
This scientific mission has enabled the deployment of 7 pop-up satellite archival tags, as well as a smaller prototype tag that could provide more information.
