News Release Archive

Reclamation awards $40 million contract to help researchers track fish movement and survival

Media Contact: Mark McKinstry, 801-524-3835, mmckinstry@usbr.gov
Amee Andreason, 801-524-3769, aandreason@usbr.gov

For Release: September 20, 2018

BioMark Inc. antenna tripSalt Lake City - The Bureau of Reclamation awarded a five-year, $40 million contract to BioMark Inc., of Boise, Idaho to help researchers detect the survival and movements of multiple fish species, including those that are endangered. The contract will fund Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags, which will help researchers determine the size and health of those populations.

“These tags provide us with better data on multiple fish species and support our efforts to recover endangered fish within the waters we manage,” said Reclamation’s Environmental Resources Manager, Kathy Callister.

The use of PIT tags provides a reliable and effective means of identifying and monitoring individual animals by utilizing radio frequency identification technology. Once researchers have implanted a PIT tag inside selected animals, they can easily be tracked and monitored using readers and antennae devices. In the case of fish, the data provides information on fish passage rates, movement patterns, survival, and return rates, which is invaluable for the recovery of endangered fish species.

Each tag contains a unique electronic number that is specific to that object. Reclamation plans to use the tags for tracking fish throughout the rivers it manages in the western United States. This includes endangered fish in the Colorado and Rio Grande River Basins, as well as sport fish such as salmon in the Pacific Northwest. Data from the PIT tags is used to inform the adaptive management of various resources.

This contract will be used by other Department agencies, including U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, and Bureau of Land Management.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.