Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has commenced an innovative tagging study to investigate the spawning migrations of bass.
The study of a large number of bass in Cork Harbour took place in partnership with Finn Okland from the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Wildlife Computers and local angling experts.
Dr Ciaran Byrne, CEO of IFI, said: “Bass is one of the most exciting and valuable recreational angling species occurring in Irish waters. This project was particularly timely given the major international focus on the distribution of bass and concerns about its status.”
He continued: “Unravelling more about bass migrations through this partnership presents an excellent opportunity to gain new insights which are essential when considered in the context of IFI’s national role in protecting and conserving this important but vulnerable species.”
The bass were returned to the water within minutes of being tagged by miniaturised satellite tags. The tags are scheduled to be released from the fish in spring 2016, the data that has been collected will then be transmitted back for research.
It is all part of IFI’s long-term National Bass Conservation Programme which aims to determine the status of juvenile, pre-adult and adult bass around the coast.
“Using this satellite technology was a highlight for Inland Fisheries Ireland’s National Bass Programme in 2015 and marks ongoing developments in the use of advanced telemetry in Ireland,” said Dr Cathal Gallagher, head of research at IFI.
He concluded: “It emphasises the importance of ‘Citizen Science’ in supporting bass research and further enhances the ongoing collaborative research with NINA and several other international partners on a range of species.”
