Emerging PIT-tag Technologies

Presenter: Sandra Downing

Ideas and information supplied by numerous people

For NPCC Fish Tagging Forum – March 22, 2012

Tags

Transceivers

Antennas

Little bit of introduction and history

Computer programs

Outline of Presentation

Examples of emerging and future applications

PIT-tag Systems Consist of

Tags Transceivers Antennas

2001: BE ISO tags FS1001A 2’ x 6’

2008: SST ISO tags FS1001M 3’ x 20’first 9-mm tag Corner collector 17’ x 17’

2005: ST ISO tags FS1001M (multiplexing) 2.5’ x 12’

Future: 16-msec tags New multiplexing transceiver ogee-passby, 5’ x 25’ or 5’ x 50’(2012) 12-mm HDX Replacement dam transceiver (2020) larger / more antennas shorter/thinner tags Spillway-Ogee and New TI-HDX

great 9-mm tag

1999: 400-kHz tags 400-kHz 12” pipe

2010: SST-1 ISO tags no new Destron 4’ x 25’ 13-mm HDX Allflex-low power, FDX&HDX 3’ x 10’

better 9-mm tag

Tags

BPA – New tag contract for 3 sizes of PIT tags

Received 18 tag models from different vendors in December 2011

PSMFC and NOAA Fisheries evaluated the tags with laboratory, field, and fish tests

12-mm contract went to the same Destron SST-1 tag (now being sold as Biomark tag)

9-mm tag 9-mm contract went to RFID Solutions S.L. (detection rate was 54% in the BCC system vs 12% for best Destron 9-mm)

Tag costs reduced with new contract

23-mm contract went to Biomark

16-msec tags (7-9% higher detection at BCC)

TagsAdditional new PIT tags

New 12-mm HDX tags (improved over 13-mm prototype)

Slender 8-mm x 1.25-mm tags (12-mm: 30% volume and 24% weight at .024g)

Individual antennas

Monitor or 4 antennas

Large Full-flow antennas 62.8 95.9Smaller juvenile antennas 95.6 99-100

Average Detection Rate

Many small tags now available(smallest 7-mm x 1.25-mm tags had disappointing performance)

Tag or Tagging Effects

12.5-mm tags have been shown in several studies to negatively impact SARs

Do smaller tags have less of a negative effect?

NOAA Fisheries is designing an experiment to evaluate this in Alaska with its higher SARs

Lost or shed tags / higher mortality (if so how much higher)

Future for Tags

I think we will see anti-collision firmware that will make it possible to detect multiple tags that are in an antenna’s field simultaneously.

9-mm tags to replace 12.3-mm tags as standard size?

Ability to kill or temporarily disable tags (e.g., collecting tag data from avian predator populations)

Transceivers

Biomark (nee Destron Fearing)

Ogee transceiver

2020 transceiver – replacement for transceivers at dams, ISO

New multiplexing transceiver

On-going Developments

NMFS and Allflex Improving system performance for low-powered Allflex board

Spillway Detection - Ogee transceiver

Powerful - capable of creating field 4-5’ deep in passby mode

Possible replacement for corner- collector transceiver (i.e., it will be able to operate very large single antennas)

Can detect the 16-msec tags

25-35% of tagged fish returning have no juvenile passage info

2020 transceiver

Designed to replace the FS1001J, FS1001A, and FS1001AB at the mainstem dam sites with a single transceiver model

Auto tuning

Diagnostics needed to help PSMFC maintain its high operational standards

Several communication ports (ethernet, fiber optic, USB)

ISO transceiver, so reads both FDX and HDX

Will be installed and tested in 2012

Currently will not work for smaller antennas

New multiplexing transceiver

Auto tuning

Substantially better read range Can sync master controllers

Same power consumption as MUX for 6 antennas Up to 12 antennas

NOAA Fisheries will be testing final prototypes during first week of April

New multiplexing transceiver

Biomark

Texas Instrument

New handheld or portable reader

Transceivers

Future Developments

Low cost multiplexing transceiver

New reader for HDX tags

Antennas

As in the past, once we have new transceivers, we will learn how to push them to maximize antenna size and learn how to use them for new applications.

For example, new multiplexing transceiver will require less of an air gap in its antennas than the MUX.

Tests of a 50’ long antenna with prototype ACN transceiver

(new meaning to it’s in the back of the truck)

Emerging and Future Applications

Lower Granite Dam

Spillway Detection

Goal is to install for 2014

TSW into Bay 2 as backup for RSW in Bay 1

Lower Granite Dam’s ogee is very different from Ice Harbor Dam’s

Tag collisions are a big issue for spillway detection

Detection rate is a big unknown

Antenna read range want 48-60”

Emerging and Future Applications

30 ft

11 ft

Support cable anchored on the shore and fixed to the piling. Antennas will be clipped to this for suspension and orientation.

15 to 20ft

4 ftCable straps, wood screws or ratchet straps fix the PVC knuckles to the piling

C-shaped aluminum bar is secured to the piling and, with rope straps, prevents side to side movement of antenna during tidal changes

Flow

Pelican case to house transceiver, batteries and radio link and solar panel for continuous power supply

Emerging and Future Applications

Juvenile lamprey

Cougar Dam

Purpose is Flood Control

Many lack fish passageways

Emerging and Future Applications

Willamette Basin

Computer Programs

M4 program for interrogation data

More incorporation of meta data into fisheries database(s)

Better web-based tools that allow for more complicated and faster analyses

M4 program for performing separation-by-code

What PIT-tag tools do researchers or managers

want to see in the future to improve managementof the fisheries resources?