A report of a tagged yellowfin tuna last year came as a surprise to fisheries biologists. The tag, sent from the National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries in Shizuoka, Japan, was received by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources’ Marine Resources Division. The tag was initially installed by a volunteer angler participating in a fish tagging program in April 2001 south of Cat Island in the Bahamas. At the time, the yellowfin was a juvenile just under 15 pounds.
When the fish was recaptured May 26, 2010, off the west coast of Africa, it had grown to almost 68 inches with an approximate weight of 189 pounds. “What makes this recovery exciting is that 151 yellowfin have been tagged and released by volunteers, but none have been recovered until now,†said Robert Wiggers, a DNR fisheries biologist. “This fish was free for nine years, and gained about 174 pounds, and was recaptured 4,000 miles from where it was initially tagged.â€
This is the first recapture of a yellowfin tuna in the history of the program, which began in 1974.
