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AUTHORS: Curt Byrd*, Five Rivers Services LLC; Duane C. Chapman, United States Geological Survey; Emily Pherigo, United States Fish and Wildlife Service
ABSTRACT: The electrical barrier in the Chicago Area Waterway System is considered to be effective on large fish, but small fish (less than 153 mm TL) could potentially penetrate the barrier. In 2015, small silver carp were located nearer to the barrier than ever before. Substantial telemetry has been performed, and continues, on adult silver and bighead carp (together the bigheaded carps), but no such work has been performed on very young bigheaded carp. Acoustic telemetry of small bigheaded carp would be beneficial to track movements in this important area, and reductions in the size of transmitters have provided an opportunity for such work. However, survival of small bigheaded carp with surgically implanted telemetry tags, and the retention rate of those tags, has not been evaluated. Our main objective was to determine tag retention and survival associated with implanting acoustic tags into small bighead carp at three separate temperatures (24°C, 18°C, 12°C.) Our secondary objective was to determine any differences in health of the carp, defined as changes in weight or swimming speed. An average survival rate of 85 percent and a tag retention rate of 46 percent were observed at the conclusion of the 45 day study. Fish had a higher rate of tag retention in the 24°C treatment compared to the cooler temperatures. No substantial decline in fish health was observed in the tagged fish versus the untagged fish.
