There are several issues related to the use of flipper tags on sea turtles: What kind of tags should be used? Where should the flipper tags be placed? Where can I get them? What size turtles can receive flipper tags?

What kind of flipper tags? [top]

The following table highlights the benefits and drawbacks to the different types of flipper tags.

Note about cost: Currently, the price per tag for Inconel is about US$ 0.70, for Monel is about $US 0.25, and for Titanium is about US$ 2.20. Although Inconel tags are about 3 times as expensive as Monel tags, they do have a longer retention rate than Monel tags. Therefore, the data obtained from Inconel tags may have more "value" than those data obtained from Monel tags.

Where should the flipper tags be placed? [top]

Hard Shelled Turtles: Because sea turtles normally have four flippers, there is some choice in tag placement. In general, most people place the tags on the trailing edge of the front flippers. In order to minimize the chance of tag loss, you should try to place the tag closer rather than further from the axilla (the armpit). There is a thickened scale on the trailing edge of the front flipper, immediately adjacent to the axilla. Most workers place the tag either through this thickened scale or adjacent to it. In the case of large turtles, the flipper in the vicinity of this scale may be too thick and hence the tag should be applied in the skin adjacent to the scale, either towards the axilla or away from it. Probably, the best location will depend on species, geographic location, and perhaps who is doing the tagging. We suggest that you ask the advice of other people who are placing tags on the front flippers of sea turtles in order to decide which site is best for you. See photos below for specific tagging sites. Some workers place tags on the trailing edges of the rear flippers. This is done for two reasons: to minimize the chances the tags will cause entanglement in nets and to maximize the retention of the tag. These are important considerations. However, tags on the rear flippers are more difficult to see, particularly in the case of nesting female sea turtles, and many people do not specifically check the rear flippers for tags when they find a turtle. If you decide to place flipper tags on the rear flippers, you should try to maximize the publicity about your choice of tag placement, to ensure that distant observers will also check the rear flippers. Always be sure to leave some room (about 15-30% of the length of the closed tag) between the tag and the trailing edge of the flipper to allow for continued growth of the flipper.

Leatherback sea turtles: Because the trailing edges of the front flippers of leatherbacks are easily torn or ripped, most people do not place tags on the front flippers. Instead, flipper tags are placed in the skin between the tail and the rear flippers. Be sure to leave some room (15% of the length of the closed tag) between the edge of the skin and the end of the tag to allow for continued growth of the turtle.

Where can I get flipper tags? [top]

Most tags must be purchased in large quantities, usually in groups of 1000 tags or more. The most commonly used Monel or Inconel flipper tags (Model Number 1005-681) are available from the National Band and Tag Company, Kentucky, USA http://www.nationalband.com/ E-Mail: tags@nationalband.com Phone: (859) 261-2035 U.S./Canada Fax: 800-261-TAGS (8247) International Fax: (859) 261-TAGS (8247)). You can also purchase plastic tags (Model Number 7341) from the same company (you must request laser-etching if you wish to have a specific code and/or return address on the plastic tags). For titanium flipper tags, please contact Stockbrands Pty Ltd, Australia (http://www.stockbrands.com.au/ E-mail: sales@stockbrands.com.au Telephone: (08) 9444 5519 Fax: (08) 94440619). If you do purchase your own tags, you should select some kind of code that is unique for your turtles. Most tags have an alphanumeric combination that starts with a few letters that signify the country or island where the turtles were tagged (e.g. FG for French Guiana, BR for Brazil, NC for New Caledonia). Other places use a random series of letters (e.g. SBG or XXN). These letters are followed by a number, usually 4 or 5 digits. You can order the tags in sequential numbers (e.g. FG 00001 through FG 29999), in that way each turtle will have its own alphanumeric code. Of course, you should ensure that the alphanumeric code that you select for the tags has not already been used elsewhere. There is a general registry of alphanumeric codes that have been used or are being used by different projects (http://accstr.ufl.edu/taginv.html). You should choose a code that has not already been used before; otherwise there is the risk of duplication and error associated with tag return information. Also, once you do select and order your own tags, be sure to notify this tagging inventory of the codes you are using, so that in the future no other projects will inadvertently choose the same code for their tags.

Note that there are agencies or organizations that may donate tags to your project. For instance, you can contact the Cooperative Marine Turtle Tagging Program <http://accstr.ufl.edu/cmttp.html> to request free tags and applicators for work in some regions.

What size turtles can receive flipper tags? [top]

Obviously, smaller turtles should receive smaller tags. Given the assumed high rate of mortality of neonate turtles, it is probably unwise to put tags on hatchlings because the chances of getting a return are greatly reduced. If you do wish to place tags on smaller turtles (e.g. juveniles with >35cm straight carapace length), you can order smaller sized tags (for example, model number 1005-1 from National Band and Tag Company (http://www.nationalband.com), but note that smaller sized tags are not available in Inconel. Because younger turtles have faster growth rates, you should leave some room for the flipper to grow with time; if the flipper tag is placed too snugly against the trailing edge of the flipper, it can become incorporated into the flesh of the flipper, making it difficult to read the tag, or the tag may be prematurely lost from increased pressure on the tag.

For an excellent overview with many tips and suggestions related to flipper tags, take a look at the chapter by George Balazs in the IUCN/SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group's Research and Management Techniques for the Conservation of Sea Turtles (http://www.iucn-mtsg.org/publications/Tech_Manual/17-balazs.pdf).