Is fin clipping fish common in fishery science?
Fin-clipping fish has been used as a tool in fisheries research for a long time. It is a simple and quick way to externally mark a fish. Fin-clipping is easily carried out with a pair of scissors. Literature shows that partial clips of dorsal fins can be used as short term marks without adverse effects on survival or metabolism (Wydoski and Emery, 1983). The fins will regenerate, or grow back. However, permanent loss or damage can occur if a fin is removed to the point of where it is attached to the bone. References on studies evaluating the effects of fin clips date back to the 1940s. For tarpon, the elongated dorsal threadfin or dorsal filament is an ideal tissue to sample by taking only the tip (a half-inch) of the fin for DNA analysis. In reality, a clip of any fin of the tarpon would work. Today, fin clips are commonly used as part of Project Tampa Bay, which is a genetic study on redfish stocks and the effects of hatchery fish being introduced to wild stocks in the population.
