Florida's Tarpon Genetic Recapture Study – a Citizen Science Success Story

Guindon, Kathryn

Florida's Tarpon Genetic Recapture Study – a Citizen Science Success Story

Tuesday, August 23, 2016: 10:40 AM

Chouteau B (Sheraton at Crown Center)

Kathryn Guindon , Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Saint Petersburg, FL

Carole Neidig , Directorate of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mote Marine Laboratory

Michael Tringali , Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, St. Petersburg, FL

Samantha Gray , Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, St. Petersburg, FL

Thomas King , Directorate of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mote Marine Laboratory

Christopher Gardinal , Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Benjamin Kurth , Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Thirteen years of cooperative research between recreational anglers, guides and state biologists examining the effects of fishing on Tarpon stress and survival culminated in the Tarpon Genetic Recapture Study which used DNA fingerprinting techniques as a tool to identify and track individual fish. The jaw-scrape method was a novel, relatively easy and less invasive way than fin clipping to collect tissue from large, powerful fish, and the involvement of volunteer citizen scientists for sample collection permitted the study to cover a spatially complex fishery with minimal cost. From 2005 to 2014, we received 24,572 Tarpon DNA samples, of which 22,992 came from Florida. We recommend the following for a successful sportfish citizen science study: promote participation by targeting specialized audiences (anglers) and specialized events (tournaments) throughout the study area; make it easy and inexpensive for participants to obtain the desired data/samples and return it to researchers; continuously implement marketing and public relations strategies to promote study awareness; budget for travel to target areas during critical times; maintain open and honest communication with stakeholders; use incentives to keep participants engaged; provide newsletters or updates to keep participants involved and others interested in the study even if they do not collect data.