Acoustic Tagging Project

Video Gallery

The short film TAGGED-YOU'RE IT! takes viewers beneath the surface of Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary, and reveals how researchers are using technology to learn more about the habits of the fish species that spend time in the sanctuary. Click here to view the video

Gabriella Garcia-Pardo is a documentary filmmaker and photographer who joined the GRNMS team for an expedition aboard the NOAA Ship Nancy Foster in the summer of 2012. Click here to see her film on the GRNMS research expedition (includes information about the telemetry project).

On June 11, 2010, NOAA divers returned to Gray's Reef to visit a site where ten tagged fish had been released during the 2010 Gray's Reef R/V NOAA Ship Nancy Foster research cruise the month before. The purpose of the trip was to attempt to locate the tagged fish using a VEMCO Diver Swim Board (DSB) that can detect their acoustic transmitters. Each fish had been surgically implanted with an acoustic tag that emits a unique signal that the DSB can identify. During the dive, the DSB detected seven of the ten fish, and divers observed several of them (identified by the yellow "spaghetti" tag that is attached near their dorsal fin). The videos below depict several tagged fish, as well as divers using the DSB to track their movement.

Click image to view Quicktime Movie (3,804 kb)

The external tag is very easy to see near the fish's dorsal fin, as a gag grouper circles the diver. Video: Jeff Hart / NOAA, GRNMS Team Ocean Diver

Click image to view Quicktime Movie (5,149 kb)

NOAA, GRNMS Team Ocean Diver Randy Rudd uses the Diver Swim Board (DSB) to attempt to detect acoustically tagged fish. Red snapper and gag grouper can be seen swimming around Randy as he notes the identification number of fish being detected by the DSB. Video: Jeff Hart / NOAA, GRNMS Team Ocean Diver

Click image to view Quicktime Movie (4,928 kb)

A tagged gag grouper joins several other grouper that are gathered under a ledge - while another tagged gag grouper observes videographer Jeff Hart. Video: Jeff Hart / NOAA, GRNMS Team Ocean Diver

Click image to view Quicktime Movie (1,555 kb)

A tagged gag grouper swims under a crowded ledge and then continues off into the distance. Video: Jeff Hart / NOAA, GRNMS Team Ocean Diver