[Coral-List] re: Conch Tagging

bmp marinepark at bmp.org
Wed Nov 19 09:24:54 EST 2003


Dear all,

I would like to thank you all for the very usefull information you have send
me on how to tag conches and for the other information you have send me
concerning conch.

thanks again!

Maarten


************************************************
Maarten Schuit
Manager Bonaire National Marine Park
PO Box 368
Bonaire
Netherlands Antilles
Tel:  599 7178444
Fax: 599  7177318

Email: marinepark at bmp.org
Homepage: www.bmp.org
*************************************************
----- Original Message -----
From: Glazer, Bob <Bob.Glazer at fwc.state.fl.us>
To: <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2003 10:52 AM
Subject: [Coral-List] re: Conch Tagging


Maarten

We have been tagging conch for years using monel seizing wire (the kind you
can get in a marine store for seizing shackles) that is tightened around the
spires of the shell.  We slip a uniquely numbered tag through the wire.  The
tags can be purchases at National Band and Tag and are 893 Jiffy Size 3
(www.nationalband.com). There is a hole in one end and a tab on the other.
You will need to loop the wire and crimp the tab through the loop to secure
the tag to the wire.  The probability of tag loss after 6 months is 0.0006
or 0.06%. They are rustproof.

Regarding drilling holes, we actually have used an auger to start a hole and
used the same monel tag to insert through the hole.  The tag is then crimped
as if it were on the ear of a rabbit (which, in fact, is what the tags were
designed to do.)  Again, tag loss is very low.  The disadvantages to this
methiod are that it is more time consuming and you will wind up chipping
shells. When this happens, the conch must expend more energy in shell
repair.  Also, it is not effective for older adult conch where the shell is
thick.

I recommend the first method which does not affect growth; we had among the
fastest growth reported for conch in the region after they were tagged using
this method.  I have attached a picture of a conch being tagged with a
similar tag (this one has an aluminum tag for tracking with underwater metal
detectors.)

Good luck

Bob Glazer


Robert Glazer
Associate Research Scientist
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Florida Marine Research Institute
2796 Overseas Highway, Ste. 119
Marathon, FL 33050
305-289-2330
305-289-2334 (fax)
bob.glazer at fwc.state.fl.us
 <<Glazer, Bob.vcf>>  <<aluminum tag on conch.TIF>>



-----Original Message-----From: bmp [mailto:marinepark at bmp.org]
Sent: Monday, November 17, 2003 4:27 PM
To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
Subject: [Coral-List] conch tagging


Dear all,

My name is Maarten Schuit, I am manager of the Bonaire National Marine Park
on Bonaire (N.A.). Currently, I am in the process of setting up a small
scale project to determine growth rate and population size of the queen
conch that occurs in a lagoon on the East coast of Bonaire, called Lac Bay.
Lac Bay is a sandy lagoon and contains seagrass beds and is surrounded by
mangroves for the greater part. It is believed to be an important nursery
ground for all kinds of marine vertebrates and invertebrates.

However, due to illegal overfishing, the population of conch in Lac Bay is
on the brink of collapse. Fishermen are of the opinion that this is not the
case. However, the big mountains of conch shell (big old shells on the
bottom, small fresh ones on the top) say it all (next to scientific surveys
that have been conducted [Lott, 2001]). Also, the fishermen believe a conch
can grow from 10 cm into adult conch in a couple of weeks, or at most in a
couple months. However, I need to work with them, to be able successfully
enforce the laws concerning conch fishery, and more important, to be able to
reverse the process of decreasing population sizes.

The good part is, that the fishermen are willing to cooperate in a project
involving growth rate and population size. I want, in cooperation with them,
conduct a capture, mark and recapture-project. To mark them, I want to drill
a little hole in the lip of the shell and place a tag. I do not want this
tag to be to big or to influence it's survival chances (or as little as
possible). I wondered if anyone has any suggestions to what kind of tag I
should use, and where I could purchase these?

Thanks on beforehand.

Maarten


Oh, and if our fishermen are right, and the conch on Bonaire do grow into
adults in a couple of months, I am going to change my job and'll be sending
out advertisements via this list for the sell of 'Bonaire's own special
conch'! ;^)

************************************************
Maarten Schuit
Manager Bonaire National Marine Park
PO Box 368
Bonaire
Netherlands Antilles
Tel:  599 7178444
Fax: 599  7177318

Email: marinepark at bmp.org
Homepage: www.bmp.org
*************************************************
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