SMAST and the Northeast Regional Cod Tagging Program 2003
Introduction • Summary • By the Numbers • Tagging Protocol • Fishermen Partners • Outreach • End Note • Final Report 2005

Map by Northern Geomantics Inc. , courtesy of the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (formerly known as the Gulf of Maine Aquarium).

Introduction
Program Manager: David Martins

In February 2003 NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service funded the

• SMAST—School for Marine Science and Technology and the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries
• CCCHFA—Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen’s Association
• DFO—Canadian Division of Fisheries and Oceans
• DMR—Maine Department of Marine Resources
• Island Institute—A non-profit, membership-based community development organization focusing on the Gulf of Maine.

Goals of the Program

• Participate in a multi-agency, international tagging study of Atlantic cod in the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank Region.
• Assist in the establishment of standard tagging and data collection protocols to be used by all agencies in the collaborative project.
• Tag up to 20,000 Atlantic cod on Georges Bank during a two year period.
• Contribute to the understanding of the region-wide Atlantic cod movements between Georges Bank and other Gulf of Maine Regions.
• Assist with public outreach for the overall project.