Overview of angler-based tagging programs and management issues

Within the fisheries management community, there is growing interest and co ncern about the practice of allowing volunteers to tag and release fish. Wh ile organized volunteer angler-based tagging programs have been in existenc e for at least 40 years, its practice has been most prevalent in marine fis heries. Recent concern over the production and distribution of inexpensive tagging kits through sporting goods retailers has raised the concern that t he practice may expand in inland waters where it may not be legal or condon ed by state agencies. Proponents of angler-based tagging programs argue tha t large amounts of data can be collected while engaging the angling communi ty in catch-tag-and release fisheries. Opponents claim that the untrained t aggers are more likely to injure fish, that the quality of the fishing expe rience may be diminished by increasing the number of marked or scarred fish , and that such programs interfere with management/research tagging efforts . A summary of angler-based tagging programs and the results of a brief sur vey of fisheries agencies about the legality of tagging are presented, as w ell as a presentation of a "tag registry" and recommendations for model tag ging programs.