Fish are tagged for the purposes of ongoing research carried out by fisheries organisations.

The tags are usually a brightly coloured plastic most commonly attached to the dorsal fin. If you catch a fish which has been tagged, do not kill the fish if at all possible.

Note down all the information you can from the tag. There should be a tag number and the name of the organisation that originally tagged the fish :

1) Measure and weigh the fish.

2) Record as much information as you can about the time, date and place of the catch.

3) Gently return the fish to the water.

4) At the earliest opportunity, contact the organisation to whom the tag belongs and pass on the data you have recorded.