How to Track Marine Animals

Tracking marine animals helps provide information to keep their numbers at a healthy level.

Ranging from microscopic zooplanktons to large species of whales, the oceans and coasts provide habitat for millions of marine animals. Tracking marine animals is critical in understanding the availability and distribution of marine life, habitat preferences and animals' range. Tracking enables scientists and scholars to take a census of the marine animals and enable better fishery and environmental management.

Things You'll Need

• Boat
• Fuel
• Crew
• GPS satellite
• Tags

Instructions

1. Get a permit from the government and ensure that you follow protocols to ensure the safety of the marine animals you want to track. Use a boat that is large enough to accommodate you and your crew. Use a crossbow to deploy a tag if you are targeting a whale. This should only be done by a trained expert. The tag is attached directly behind the blow hole of a whale at a depth of about ten centimetres. Attach the tag into the blubber layer at an angle by partially implanting a barb. Satellite tag prices range from $3,000 to $ 5,000. Tag turtles and seals by gluing the tag on the shell and fur respectively. Attach tags using bolts or suction caps to avoid losing the tags on seals and turtles.

2. Use the new large-scale tracking network programs like the Pacific Ocean Self Tracking program, or POST, to gain a deeper understanding of travel patterns, dive depths, behavior and movement of marine animals. The highly acoustic lines of this system help you document these animals' patterns of movement across the continental shelf. Use the system's database that is complete with visualization and mapping tools to complete the tracking study. This data is collected while the animal is still under water and is transmitted when it surfaces.

3. Document all data transmitted by a tagged marine animal which is detected by a receiver as the animal passes over listening lines. Each tag emits a unique identifier whenever the animal crosses a line. Enter the data you have collected into a system that will help you map the animal's movements.

4. Analyze and draw final conclusions in relation to the migratory and habitual behaviors of the marine animals that you tagged. Tags might also enable you to estimate the survival of tagged animals. Learn where the animals go and where they die in the oceans, the distribution and behavioral changes due to climate and species interaction through analysis of the data collected from the tags.

Tips & Warnings

• Attaching tags varies depending on the animal being studied and is physically challenging. It is also costly and requires patience and training. Most satellite tags are used to track whales and sharks. It takes months to compile detailed information about marine animals.

References

• Victorian Resources Online: Fishtrack
• Whale Lock: How Satellite Tags Are Attached
• Teach Engineering: Marine Animal Tracking
• Blogs Plos: Tracking Marine Animal Travel, Introducing The PloS POST Collection
• Hampton Roads: Researchers Tag Whales, Track Ships In Sonar Study