The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries recently hosted two Women’s Fish Tagging Workshops at the Grand Isle Fisheries Research Lab where 25 women perfected their angling skills under the supervision and with the assistance of experienced LDWF staff.
 
The program consists of a one-day workshop where angling and fish tagging techniques are taught to women, 18 and older, who may lack either the opportunity or confidence to learn these skills.  Every participant leaves the workshop as a more knowledgeable, independent angler. 
 
Participants were chosen by a lottery drawing  and were required to have previously attended a one-day introductory workshop at the Gonzales Cabela’s in the spring. 
 
The ladies began their weekend learning to rig and bait their own rod and reel, compliments of CCA Louisiana.  LDWF biologists led inshore fishing trips, providing a hands-on opportunity for the participants to utilize the skills previously learned.   Additional activities included fish cleaning, cooking fish, fish ageing and a tour of research facilities at the lab.
 
The Louisiana Cooperative Marine Fish Tagging Program, implemented by LDWF in conjunction with CCA Louisiana, aims to improve understanding of marine fish movements, habitat preferences and population size.  The program provides interested volunteer anglers with free, saltwater fish tagging kits and focuses on several popular game fish species including redfish, speckled trout, red snapper and yellowfin tuna.  Reports of recaptures are sent to the volunteer tagger, providing details on the distance traveled and growth of the fish.
 
Several of these dedicated “citizen scientists” tag well over 100 fish in the course of a year.
 
The next workshop is scheduled for Spring 2015.  For more information on this program or the Louisiana Cooperative Marine Fish Tagging Program, visit www.TagLouisiana.com , www.facebook.com/Tag.Louisiana or contact Heather David at (225) 763-5415 or hdavid@wlf.la.gov.
 
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is charged with managing and protecting Louisiana’s abundant natural resources.  For more information, visit us at www.wlf.louisiana.gov, on Facebook at www.facebook.com, on Instagram @WLFLA, or on Twitter @LDWF.
 
For press inquiries, contact Ashley Wethey at awethey@wlf.la.gov or (504) 286-8733.