First research meeting held to improve and study pop-up electronic tags using the Argos satellite for Japanese eel
On April 4, 2022, the first meeting of the research group to improve and study pop-up electronic tags using the Argos satellite for Japanese eel was held under the FY2022 International Fisheries Resource Change Mechanism Analysis Project (Subsidized Project). This project is led by Professor Hakoyama of the Institute of Freshwater Biology and conducted in collaboration with the Institute of Freshwater Biology, Kyushu University, Shinshu University Faculty of Engineering, Little Leonardo Co., Ltd., Kumamoto Prefectural Fisheries Research Center, Miyazaki Prefectural Inland Waters Development Center, and the Fisheries Research Institute.
It is important to understand the resource structure by linking the breeding and spawning grounds of the Japanese eel and identifying the origins (habitats and mortality migration areas) of the parent eels that contribute to reproduction. In addition, tracking spawning migrations that do not reach the spawning grounds is one of the basic knowledge of eel resources required by CITES, IUCN, FAO, and international informal eel conferences. Tracking to spawning grounds using satellite tags has been successful for large American and European eels and is a promising method internationally (Beguer-Pon et al., 2015. Nature Comm., Righton et al., 2016. Sci. Adv.). However, for small Japanese eels, satellite tagging has not yet been established to monitor long-distance movements between nursery and spawning grounds, and current challenges include improving satellite tagging survey methods and collecting and accumulating knowledge through surveys.
With this in mind, we are conducting research to improve satellite tagging and its use in surveys. In migration surveys, we are using satellite tags on eels to survey multiple habitats and obtain data on ocean movements (Nagano University, Kumamoto Prefecture, Miyazaki Prefecture, Kyushu University). We are also improving the new small and less cumbersome ARGOS pop-up satellite tag for Japanese eels (Shinshu University, Little Leonardo, Nagano University). Ultimately, we aim to conduct satellite tag surveys that can withstand the 2,500 km journey to the spawning grounds.
