Using a drifting GPS-Argos satellite buoy as a method for detecting acoustic-tagged fish offshore in an ancient lake

Abstract

Abstract Background Telemetry methods that allow low-cost, offshore tracking are required for the effective conservation and sustainable use of migratory fish in large lakes with vast and deep offshore areas. Surface drifting buoys, or drifters, are promising platforms for acoustic receiver attachment that have few operational constraints. However, the low recovery rate of drifters in the open ocean presents a challenge. In contrast, closed waters, such as lakes, are more suitable for operating drifters since drifting objects eventually strand on the shore. In this study, we examined the effectiveness of a single GPS-tracked drifter for telemetry surveys of the common carp Cyprinus carpio, which migrates throughout the large offshore area of a large lake, Lake Biwa, in Japan. Its performance was assessed regarding the success rate of drifter recovery, detection frequency of tagged individuals, search area of the drifter, and accuracy of detection locations. Results We successfully recovered the drifter during all eight deployments. In 6 deployments, tagged individuals were detected 777 times. The drifter successfully detected 48% (10 of 21) of the tagged individuals, exhibiting higher performance (10–33%) than fixed receivers used in other telemetry studies conducted on highly migratory fish species in the lake. The drifter scanned an area of 5.5–8.0 km2 per day. Based on the data obtained from the field trials, the horizontal location accuracy of detected individuals was estimated to be approximately 400 m in shallow coastal areas and 600 m in deep offshore areas. Furthermore, the horizontal distance of tagged individuals traveled was estimated to be between 2 and 9 km within a day. Conclusion Our newly developed method deploys and retrieves a single GPS drifter that allows low-cost, wide-ranging telemetry surveys in offshore areas of large lakes. The lack of boat noise, moderate moving speed, and continuity of observation range of the drifter seemingly enabled the efficient detection of tagged individuals. Thus, the drifter method offers a promising novel approach for acoustic telemetry in offshore waters that can operate in combination with large receiver arrays and other mobile platforms.