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What is the ALS Tagging Program and How Can I Participate? About the Program The Littoral Society"s fish tagging program was started in 1965 by Graham Macmillan, a Society vice president and an avid sport fisherman. After consulting with fisheries biologists, he set up the program that, with only a few refinements, has served us well since. The premise of the program is that many fishermen release much of what they catch, especially those fish with a legal minimum size such as striped bass and fluke. Why not encourage fishermen to tag those fish before they release them? Why not develop a whole new breed of angler—one who fishes and releases routinely? This tagging program would be appropriate for all the marine gamefish of the coast and for those that run up the coastal rivers. The Society decided to make the program self-supporting (i.e., the fishermen would pay the cost of the program) and to make it as easy as possible. Finally, we also decided that all data produced would be published and made available to the fisheries scientists who would use it, and that all taggers and recapturers would hear about the fish they had released or recaptured. Based on the principles set up in 1965, the tagging program has grown to be the largest voluntary fish tagging program in the nation and is recognized by the ASMFC. How to Participate Participation in the tagging program is limited to Society members, individually or through club membership. Membership is $35 for an individual or family. Charter captains and their onboard customers can also participate for the family rate of $35. Once a member, new taggers will receive a packet of information about how to get started, along with access to our tagging staff, who are available to answer questions. Taggers purchase tag kits from the Society for $6 per set, including a set of 10 tags, 10 data cards, an applicator needle and instructions. For information about how to get started, call Jeff at 732-291-0055.
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