Developments in Tagging Technology and Their Contributions to the Protection of Marine Species at Risk

Electronic telemetry is making major contributions to understanding the biology and the recovery of threatened and endangered aquatic species. A variety of electronic tag systems are available, with each type having it own strengths and weaknesses. Global networking and data sharing are becoming common, and are necessary to maximize benefits from investments in telemetry infrastructure. Future technology development will advance new sensors to document specific causes contributing to species declines (e.g., predation tags and camera tags). There is a need to expand the use of telemetry, especially in developing nations, to help guide sustainable use of the oceans.