Tag predation is the transferal of an active tag from a tagged study fish to a predator. Tag predation is problematic when consumed tags continue to be detected and the movements of the predator are included in the detection history, providing misleading information on the state and behavior of the study subject. Methods are needed to filter the telemetry data set to remove predator detections (“predator filter”).

This project’s objective is to develop a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for diagnosing and handling tag predation in acoustic telemetry studies of emigrating juvenile salmonids. The focus is on studies in the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta of California, but the methods developed will also be adaptable to other systems. A resource guide on tag predation is available below, including a literature review, annotated bibliography, and glossary. Future plans include development of an R package to facilitate diagnosis and removal of predator detections from salmonid data sets. More information is available at: https://www.researchgate.net/project/Tag-Predation-SOP-for-the-Sacramento-San-Joaquin-River-Delta