TAG LOUISIANA
🎣 Join TAG Louisiana – Make Your Mark on Marine Conservation!
TAG Louisiana, a collaborative program between RFRI and the Coastal Conservation Association of Louisiana, invites you to become part of a powerful community of citizen scientists. Since 1988, over 3,500 dedicated volunteers have tagged more than 340,000 fish and reported 15,000+ recaptures – and now, it’s your turn to join the movement!
🌊 Why Get Involved?
🏷️ Tag Fish, Track Results: Help us gather crucial data on fish movements, habitat use, and population dynamics.
🧠 Learn While You Fish: Discover fascinating insights about the fish you catch and the ecosystems they inhabit.
🐟 Support Smarter Management: Your contributions aid in the development of sustainable fisheries policies at the state and federal levels.
📍 How It Works
Cast your line, catch a fish, and tag it following simple instructions.
Log your tagged fish using the Anglers Almanac App – it’s quick and easy!
Watch the data roll in and see how your efforts contribute to science and conservation.
💥 Why It Matters Marine sport fish populations are always changing due to environmental factors and fishing activity. By tagging and tracking fish, we can better understand these patterns and make informed decisions to protect our fisheries for future generations.
📲 Join Today! Become part of TAG Louisiana and leave a legacy of knowledge and stewardship. Download the Anglers Almanac App and start tagging today!
TAG Louisiana History
🎣 The Legacy of TAG Louisiana – From Vision to Innovation
In 1987, Maumus “Timau” Claveier and CCA Louisiana launched the Cooperative Marine Sport Fish Tagging Program. By 1995, it became the nation’s premier tagging program, with over 200 volunteer anglers tagging 10,000 fish annually.
In 1999, RFRI stepped in to revitalize the program, expanding its reach and impact. Through nearly two decades of dedication, RFRI rebranded it as TAG Louisiana (TAG), introducing anglers to a more scientific approach to fish tagging. This program turns everyday anglers into citizen scientists, providing critical data to better understand fish life cycles and support conservation efforts.
Since 2018, RFRI has redefined TAG with its “Fish with a Purpose” initiative, launching a redesigned website, advanced data management tools, and automated reporting services to streamline participation.
When COVID hit in 2020, CCA faced staffing and funding challenges, and RFRI stepped up once again to manage the program. With support from the AZBY Fund, TAG Louisiana continued collecting invaluable data for fisheries management.
🌊 Join the Movement! Be part of this incredible journey. Click here to learn more about TAG Louisiana's past, present, and future – and how you can get involved!
TAG Louisiana Benefits
🎣 The Power of Fish Tagging – Science in Action!
Fish tagging, the practice of attaching markers to fish, is a game-changer for fisheries management and scientific research. Here’s why it matters:
🐟 Population Insights: Tagging helps estimate fish population size, movement patterns, and habitat use. This data reveals the health and distribution of fish populations, guiding sustainable management decisions.
⚖️ Smart Stock Management: By tracking growth, survival rates, and migration, scientists can set accurate fishing quotas and catch limits to prevent overfishing.
🗺️ Migration & Habitat Discovery: Tagging reveals when, where, and why fish migrate, helping identify key spawning, feeding, and nursery areas crucial for habitat protection.
🌊 Ecosystem Insights: Understanding fish movements sheds light on predator-prey relationships and the broader food web, supporting ecosystem health and restoration efforts.
🤝 Collaboration & Data Sharing: Tagging programs unite researchers, conservationists, and anglers. Shared data fosters better management and enhances conservation strategies.
📣 Engaging the Public: Citizen science programs empower anglers to contribute directly to research, boosting awareness and stewardship of aquatic resources.
🐠 Why It Matters: Fish tagging provides critical insights that protect habitats, maintain healthy fish populations, and deepen our understanding of marine ecosystems.
📲 Get Involved Today! Join us in this exciting scientific adventure. Tag a fish, track its journey, and make a real impact on fisheries management!
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What is tagging?
The Tagging Program provides a tagging kit, including 25 tags and a tag applicators. Dedicated volunteer taggers receive program gifts and will be given access to the Tagging Community website. Here taggers may track the data they have collected for each of the fish they have tagged, released and reported. Taggers will also be notified if one of their tagged fish is ever recaptured, providing that fish’s history.
How to Tag a Fish
Watch the video for instructions and more information on tagging.
Caught a Tagged Fish?
Record the following pertinent information immediately listed below. Then release the fish with the tag still intact if under/oversize or you would just like to catch and release. Call 1 (800) 891-3977 or click here to report your tagged fish and receive your reward.
- Species
- Tag Number
- Location description and GPS coordinates (within one mile)
- Length of the fish
- Time of day
- Date
- Any comments (such as condition)
Help Support Tag Louisiana
You can help support the tagging program by making a donation to help us continue to provide supplies and support to the program participants. When we receive a $500 donation it helps us provide 200 tagging kits or one month of website and app software development and maintenance. When we receive a $1,500 donation it helps us provide 10,000 fish tags or 100 tag applicators. Your donations also go towards helping us purchase postage when mailing out tags, kits, and applicators to participants.
You can make a donation online by selecting an amount or entering an amount you choose. You’ll receive a donation receipt by email.
We truly appreciate all who have donated and thank you for your generosity and continued support of this great program.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SUPPORT US?
ALL DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE.
Managing the future of fishing in Louisiana is a monumental task and in order for the RFRI to tackle fisheries, habitat, and coastal restoration projects, funding is required. Your contributions will greatly protect, enhance and maintain the Gulf Coast Marine Fishery through science, education and public involvement.