Researchers use acoustic telemetry to collect information about fish movements (e.g., migration patterns, habitat use, survival). Researchers implant or attach transmitters, or electronic tags, to fish of interest and release them back into the wild. The tags broadcast “pings” so that the fish can be “heard” by any receivers that are within range. When a tagged fish nears a receiver, the signal is identified and recorded, providing a recorded location for that fish.
The water quality buoy in the sanctuary has an attached acoustic telemetry receiver. Sanctuary staff collect and look at the data in partnership with the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center and the Mid-Atlantic Acoustic Telemetry Observation System. The data helps the sanctuary co-managers and partners better understand what fish species are in the sanctuary, including any rare, endangered, or threatened species.