David,

Have you considered T-bar anchor tags through the dorsal fin. They are
similar to clothing label tags (small plastic stem with "T" piece on one
end and a coloured cyclinder with a number on the other end. They're
available in various colours & sizes from Hallprint Pty Ltd of South
Australia.

Lee Miles B.Sc. (Hon)
PhD Candidate
University of Tasmania
School of Zoology

On Mon, 22 Apr 2002 11:25:07 +1000 David Powter wrote:

> List members,
>
> I am researching the Port Jackson shark, Heterodontus portusjackoni, at
> the University of Newcastle (Australia) and am trying to get some
> advice/suggestions on the best method of tagging them.  Port Jacksons
> are a
> small shark growing to a maximum length of 1.65m and are found on the
> shallow coastal reefs of southern Australia during our winter months.
> During these times they mate and deposit their egg cases in rocky
> crevices.  They are a bottom dwelling species that is largely
> inactive during
> the day and is readily approached and handled by divers.  It appears
> that adult females may migrate up to 800km between their winter breeding
> and summer grounds.
>
> The tagging programme being considered will involve volunteer SCUBA
> divers with limited training, but experience in diving with Port Jackson
> sharks.  One method of tagging proposed involves the use of caudal
> peduncle tags.  The tags consist of a cattle ear type tag attached to a
> seawater resistant nylon cable tie which is attached around the caudal
> peduncle, leaving 1-2cm of slack.  This method is simple for untrained
> divers, but some concerns have been raised about the tags damaging the
> caudal peduncle and caudal fin.  I'm interested in any
> information/views on
> this.
>
> Also, I'm seeking suggestions for other methods of tagging these sharks
> underwater that would be simple for untrained, but recreationally
> competent SCUBA divers.  The sharks are generally easy to handle
> underwater
> and pose little, if any, risk to divers.
>
> Please reply directly to me at [log in to unmask] and I'll provide
> summarised information for anyone that's interested upon request.
>
> Thanks,
>
> David Powter
>
> School of Applied Sciences, University of Newcastle.
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Yahoo! Messenger- A great way to communicate long-distance for FREE!
>
> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>
>        To leave the Fish-Sci list, Send blank message to:
>         mailto:[log in to unmask]
>       Need help? Contact  [log in to unmask]
> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>
>

><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>
       To leave the Fish-Sci list, Send blank message to:
        mailto:[log in to unmask]
      Need help? Contact  [log in to unmask]
><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>