Are long term negative effects from external tags underestimated? Fouling of an externally attached telemetry transmitter

• Published in: Journal of Fish Biology
• Main Authors: Thorstad, E. B., ØKland, F., Heggberget, T. G.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2001
• Subjects: Atlantic salmon; Salmo salar
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.2001.tb00174.x; http://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1095-8649.2001.tb00174.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1095-8649.2001.tb00174.x

An externally attached radio transmitter and antenna on a farmed Atlantic salmon Salmo salar was overgrown with green algae, mussels, seaweed and Balanus sp. after the fish had stayed at sea from December 1997‐July 1998. This observation indicates that fouling may be an important factor, which is seldom considered when estimating negative effects from tags on the animals. Fouling increases the drag from the transmitter, and may affect the swimming speed, energy budget and behaviour of the fish. The effect is likely to be most pronounced in coastal waters.