Development of a camera system for identifying tagged fish species

Pinger tags have long been used as a method of tracking fish movements. Typically, tags are either fixed to fish manually using catch and release methods, or the fish are allowed to ingest the tags through the use of baited lines. In the study of tuna species, long lines fitted with pinger tags and bait provide researches with a fast and effective method of tagging targets. The fish are able to swallow the pinger tag and bait, without the need for risky catch and release. The downside to this method however, is that researches are unsure of the specific species of fish which ingests a given tag. A method of identifying specific tagged species is needed to relate the tracking information with species movements. This paper discusses the design and development of a prototype target photography system. The system employs off the shelf digital camera technology in a compact and easy to use system. The mechanical, electrical and control systems are reviewed in detail, along with operational requirements. Preliminary system results are also presented. Finally, the paper outlines future work and improvements.