AFSC/RACE/GAP/Nichol: Archival tag depth and temperature data from northern rock sole

Depth data from archival tags on northern rock sole (Lepidopsetta polyxystra) were examined to assess whether fish used tidal currents to aid horizontal migration. Two northern rock sole, out of 115 released with archival tags in the eastern Bering Sea, were recovered 314 and 667 days after release. Both fish made periodic excursions away from the bottom during mostly nighttime hours, but also during particular phases of the tide cycle. One fish that was captured and released in an area of rotary cur rents made vertical excursions that were correlated with tidal current direction. To test the hypothesis that the fish made vertical excursions to use tidal currents to aid migration, a hypothetical migratory path was calculated using a tide model to predict the current direction and speed during periods when the fish was off the bottom. This migration included limited movements from July through December, followed by a 200-km southern migration from January through February, then a return northward in March and April. The successful application of tidal current information to predict a horizontal migratory path not only provides evidence of selective tidal stream transport but indicates that vertical excursions were conducted primarily to assist horizontal migration.

Initially to examine horizontal movement patterns, but then also to examine for the evidence of selective tidal stream transport.

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Publication: Nichol, D.G. 2009. Use of selective tidal stream transport by northern rock sole in the eastern Bering Sea. Fish. Bull. 107: 221-234.

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Two NRS were recovered from among 115 released with attached electronic data storage tags in the eastern Bering Sea between 4 June and 26 July 2003. Release locations were approximately 200 km northeast of St. Paul Island (northern fish) and 18 km northwest of Unimak Island (southern fish) (Fig. 1). Fish were initially captured with a bottom trawl, tagged and released during the course of the annual eastern Bering Sea bottom trawl survey (Acuna and Lauth, 2008). The two recovered fish, both captured by commercial trawlers, were a 34 cm TL (at release) female at liberty for 314 days (northern fish) and a 40 cm TL (at release) female at liberty for 667 days (southern fish).

The fish were tagged with Lotek Wireless LTD-1100 data storage tags. Tags were attached to the eyed-side, just below the anterior end of the dorsal fin using 0.5 mm stainless-steel wire. The wire was inserted through two points on the tag, through the fish’s muscle, and affixed on the blind side using oval plastic backing. The two wire ends were fastened on the outside of the backing with a crimped connector sleeve.

Tag data, including depth and temperature, were recorded at 0.5- or 1-hr time intervals. Depth had a resolution of 0.58 m when fish remained in less than 150 m and 1.2 m thereafter if the fish exceeded 150 m; temperature had an accuracy of + 0.3 ¿C. The northern tag recorded for the entire 314 days the fish was at liberty, whereas the southern tag recorded for 620 of 667 days at liberty before the battery died.