SPOT Tags- Smart Position or Temperature Transmitting Tags
MCSI researchers use Smart Position or Temperature Transmitting (SPOT) tags to track fish in real-time. SPOT tags are secured to a fish’s fin with plastic bolts. The tag sends a signal to a satellite each time the wet/dry sensor on the tag senses that the fish’s fin is at the surface and out of the water. The satellite can then locate the precise location of the tag (within approximately 350 meters) and send the data via e-mail to the researcher. Using this technology, MCSI receives daily updates on the exact locations of the tagged fish. The advantage of a SPOT tag over a pop-up satellite tag is that the animal can be tracked actively, more precisely, over a period of months to years.
MCSI will be using SPOT tags to track: