A collaborative approach to marine species tracking: Insights from the Fish Intel Acoustic Telemetry Network

Abstract Acoustic telemetry offers valuable insights into species' spatial and temporal movement patterns, helping to understand habitat use, behaviour and migration timings. The Fish Intel Network established a collaborative cross‐English Channel acoustic telemetry network to track multiple species over small and large spatial scales. This network was designed in close alliance with local fishers to incorporate essential local ecological knowledge of target species and habitats, gathered through interviews and workshops. To date, 254 acoustic receivers have been deployed, and 874 animals have been tagged across the Channel. Six species were tracked for this study: European bass ( Dicentrarchus labrax ), pollack ( Pollachius pollachius ), Atlantic bluefin tuna ( Thunnus thynnus ), black seabream ( Spondyliosoma cantharus ), thinlip mullet ( Chelon ramada ) and crawfish ( Palinurus elephas ). Key lessons learned from the project include emphasising the value of local and international collaboration, equipment compatibility and local ecological knowledge to provide vital data for establishing an acoustic telemetry network. Provide practical solutions for issues with receiver functionality and data ownership, and advocate for the integration of local ecological knowledge with acoustic telemetry in future tracking studies to enhance the understanding and management of marine species. Solution : International and local collaboration, using compatible telemetry equipment with joint data sharing.

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Publication Details

Journal
Ecological Solutions and Evidence
Published
2025-10-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/2688-8319.70148
Citations
2
Primary Topic
Ichthyology and Marine Biology
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
4.63

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article

A collaborative approach to marine species tracking: Insights from the Fish Intel Acoustic Telemetry Network

Matthew J. Witt, Siân E. Rees, F. G. Binney, Jean‐Luc Solandt et al.
2 citations
Ecological Solutions and Evidence
Ichthyology and Marine Biology
4.63
article

A collaborative approach to marine species tracking: Insights from the Fish Intel Acoustic Telemetry Network

Matthew J. Witt, Siân E. Rees, F. G. Binney, Jean‐Luc Solandt, Colin Trundle, Lydie I. E. Couturier, James E. Stewart, Martin J. Attrill, Lucy A. Hawkes, Jason M. Hall‐Spencer, Bob Ciotti, Richard Pender, Martial Laurans, Jan Reubens, Thomas W. Horton, Carlota Muñiz, George P. Balchin, Silvana N.R. Birchenough, Alice E. Hall, Alexander D. M. Wilson, Katia Frangoudès, Xavier Tetard, Thomas Stamp, Peter W. F. Davies, Amy Cartwright, Marine Gonse, Emmanuelle Quillérou, Olivier Blanpain, Eider Graner, Pascal Provost, Mathieu Woillez, Emma V. Sheehan, Allison Atterborne, Sarah Ward, Shion E. A. Reynell, J.W. Lewis, Ronan Conlon, Tom Hooper, Alex Plaster, Erwin Quemeneur, Mewen Abjean
article en
2 citations

Abstract

Abstract Acoustic telemetry offers valuable insights into species' spatial and temporal movement patterns, helping to understand habitat use, behaviour and migration timings. The Fish Intel Network established a collaborative cross‐English Channel acoustic telemetry network to track multiple species over small and large spatial scales. This network was designed in close alliance with local fishers to incorporate essential local ecological knowledge of target species and habitats, gathered through interviews and workshops. To date, 254 acoustic receivers have been deployed, and 874 animals have been tagged across the Channel. Six species were tracked for this study: European bass ( Dicentrarchus labrax ), pollack ( Pollachius pollachius ), Atlantic bluefin tuna ( Thunnus thynnus ), black seabream ( Spondyliosoma cantharus ), thinlip mullet ( Chelon ramada ) and crawfish ( Palinurus elephas ). Key lessons learned from the project include emphasising the value of local and international collaboration, equipment compatibility and local ecological knowledge to provide vital data for establishing an acoustic telemetry network. Provide practical solutions for issues with receiver functionality and data ownership, and advocate for the integration of local ecological knowledge with acoustic telemetry in future tracking studies to enhance the understanding and management of marine species. Solution : International and local collaboration, using compatible telemetry equipment with joint data sharing.

Ecological Solutions and EvidenceVol. 6(4)
Flanders Marine Institute (BE), Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (GB), East Sussex County Council (GB), Ifremer (FR), Université de Bretagne Occidentale (FR), University of Exeter (GB), Cornwall Council (GB), Worthing Hospital (GB), Western Isles Hospital (GB), Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (BE), Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement (FR), Environmental Resources Management (United Kingdom) (GB), Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve (CN), Sussex Wildlife Trust (GB), Brixham Community Hospital (GB), Conseil Régional de Basse-Normandie (FR), Ross on Wye Hospital (GB), Centre Hospitalier Public du Cotentin (FR), Department of Energy and Environment (US), Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer (FR), University of Plymouth (GB)
Natural England, Instituto de Física de Cantabria, Interreg
Openalex Percentile: Top 5%
Ichthyology and Marine Biology
4.63
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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