Electronic tags reveal behaviour of captured and discarded fish

Internally implanted data storage tags (DST) recording hydrostatic pressure (depth) and temperature in Atlantic cod Gadus morhua were used to track the behaviour of nine individuals during fishing operations. Gadus morhua showed identifiable and characteristic behavioural responses to different capture processes. In a unique observation, one fish survived being discarded and upon return to the seabed exhibited a cessation of activity comparable to observations on stressed fish under laboratory conditions.