Application of PIT tags for individual identification of turbot (<i>Scophthalmus maximus</i>)

Abstract

Passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags only work in very close proximity of the receiver (cm distance). Therefore, active transponders are mainly used in behavioural monitoring. In the present study, the effects of intraabdominal implantation of PIT tags on survival, well-being and growth performance of juvenile turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) were investigated. Furthermore, the tag retention rate and read out error rate of all tags were examined. Passive integrated transponder tags were implanted in the abdominal cavity of nearly 6 000 turbots. All tags were readout and checked for correct function over a period of 122 days every five and a half weeks. No significant effects of tagging on fish survival (mortality rate <0.2 %), health or growth were detected during the trial period. Tag retention rate was 100 % and no malfunctions were observed. Results suggest that turbots can be marked with PIT tags in the abdominal cavity without obvious negative influences on performance traits and tag retention rate.

Evaluation of different tags on survival, growth and stress response in the flatfish Senegalese sole

“…Previous tagging studies in flatfish (Pleuronectidae and Scophthalmidae) used the eyed-side as the best access route for tag injection since secondary infections and friction of wound against tank bottom were thus minimized (Moser et al, 2005;Oesau et al, 2013;Sparrevohn et al, 2014). However, this methodological approach is not feasible in sole due to the small size and large ellipticity of internal cavity.…”

“…In flatfish, internal tagging is a bit more complicated by some methodological constraints due to the small size of the abdominal cavity and fish handling. Although specific procedures in large-size flatfish species such as plaice and turbot were optimized by accessing from the eyed-side (Moser et al, 2005;Oesau et al, 2013;Sparrevohn et al, 2014), specific methods need to be optimized in smaller and more ellipsoid flatfishes such as soles.…”

Estimation of genetic parameters for growth and carcass traits in turbot (&lt;i&gt;Scophthalmus maximus&lt;/i&gt;)

“…Nearly 8000 turbot of four different European strains were raised from juveniles to approximately market age in two experiments to collect individual weight and morphometric growth data. During the first trial in 2010-2011 fish originating from Norway (strain A, N = 3423) and Iceland (strain B, N = 2563) were reared as part of a larger project on growth modeling (Oesau et al, 2013). Each fish was tagged intra-abdominally with passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags (Hallprint, PTY Ltd., Hindmarsh Valley, Australia).…”

“…Length was defined as length from tail fin to snout, W was measured at the widest point of the fish excluding the fins, and A was defined as the entire body surface area of the fish excluding the fins. Measurement protocols were established in a previous experiment and are described in detail in Oesau et al (2013). Starting in 2013, animals from France (strain C, N = 940) and Norway (strain D, N = 1026) were subsequently raised and measured in 30 d intervals for a duration of 18 months, utilizing the same procedures.…”