Preliminary results from the Argentine tagging program for the Patagonian toothfish in the south-western Atlantic

A Tagging Program for Patagonian toothfish in the longline Argentine fishery outside CCAMLR´s waters was implemented. It was designed to study specific characteristics of the movement and migration of Patagonian toothfish in order to increase biological knowledge on the species and improve resource management in the South-Western Atlantic Ocean. The program started in 2004 and some 4900 juvenile toothfish were tagged and released by Observers form National Institute for Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP). The chosen tag was an orange standard anchor T-bar tag, similar to those used in other CCAMLR’s toothfish tagging programs. The program was directed to juvenile fish preferably less than 82 cm length TL. Once a tagged specimen was retrieved on board, the tag was removed by the observer who registered its size, weight and recapture position. Otoliths were extracted. Since 2004 up today, 4,913 toothfish were tagged and 70 recaptured. In order to improve the results some recommendations are given.