Bottlenecks to Survival is part of the PSF 
Marine Science Program

PIT Arrays & Tagging

Using a staged approach over the three years of the project, PSF, together with BCCF, will implement new PIT antenna arrays in key Vancouver Island River systems, as well as DFO-SEP hatchery facilities.

Implementation of PIT infrastructure at hatcheries will also provide an innovative means of monitoring and evaluating experimental rearing and release strategies, hatchery-wild interactions, and future research opportunities at these enhancement facilities. To maximize this infrastructure investment, an ongoing PIT tagging program that aims to tag over 50,000 wild and hatchery juvenile Chinook, Coho, and steelhead throughout the Salish Sea region each year for the next 4 years has been implemented. Tagging will take place at hatchery facilities; in rivers and estuaries targeting wild fish; and in the marine environment for both hatchery and wild fish via capture by micro-trolling – a modified method of recreational fishing that utilizes miniature trolling gear (hooks, spoons, flashers) to target juvenile salmon. Data from this extensive PIT program will help elucidate key survival bottlenecks in both freshwater and early marine environments for Chinook, Coho, and Steelhead, and will be used to develop strategies that may help improve survival.

For the latest updates, see the survival bottlenecks news page.

Team installing PIT antenna array, photo credit: D. Swainson.

Location of PIT tag array systems as of Fall 2022.
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