Journal Article
A field evaluation of long‐term effects of PIT tagging
Christian Skov; Joan H. Hansen; Henrik Baktoft; Christer Brönmark; Jakob Brodersen; Ben B. Chapman; Lars‐Anders Hansson; Kaj Hulthén; P. Anders Nilsson
Journal of Fish Biology · Vol. 96, Issue 4 · pp. 1055-1059 · 2020
Abstract
Passive integrated transponder (PIT)‐tagging is commonly used in behavioural studies of fish, although long‐term evaluations of effects from tagging under natural conditions are scarce. We PIT‐tagged common bream Abramis brama , European perch Perca fluviatilis , pike Esox lucius and roach Rutilus rutilus , released them in their lakes of origin and recaptured them after 103–3269 days. Overall, tagged fish did not differ in condition from non‐tagged fish, except for small R. rutilus that had a lower length‐specific body mass in one lake in 1 year. We conclude that PIT‐tagging in general has negligible long‐term effects on fish condition.