Sponsor a Satellite Tag in Bermuda

This is your chance to give back to your sport! Sponsoring a satellite tag and deploying it safely in a blue marlin will help us understand more about North Atlantic blue marlin populations and fight for better international conservation measures for these iconic fish.

The IGFA Great Marlin Race is the world’s foremost scientific billfish tracking program. With over 500 satellite tags deployed across the globe, the database of information collected is being used by science and fisheries management to help conserve billfish stocks for the future. In Bermuda, the IGFA Great Marlin Race began tagging in 2015 and, in the five events held during the Bermuda Triple Crown, a total of 32 tags were deployed. Bermuda is one of the IGFA Great Marlin Race’s most successful locations and has become the home of some of the most impressive migratory tracks ever collected on blue marlin. In fact, 31% of the tags deployed in the Triple Crown reached their full 240-day deployment duration, a feat no other location can boast and nearly unheard of in the billfish tagging world. The second longest blue marlin and fourth longest overall track in IGFA Great Marlin Race history was deployed in 2018 during the Bermuda Triple Crown by Lainey Jones’ team aboard the Mama Who that popped up an amazing 4,166nm from where it was deployed.

After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the IGFA will be back in Bermuda for 2022 with five satellite tags available for sponsorship. All participants in the 2022 Bermuda Billfish Blast (July 3^rd-7^th), 2022 Bermuda Billfish Release Cup (July 9^th-11^th), Bermuda Big Game Classic (July 14^th-18^th), and Sea Horse Anglers Club Billfish Tournament (July 21^st-25^th) are invited to sponsor these tags to be deployed on blue marlin.

 

 

 

Winning Marlin

The winner will be the sponsor or team whose marlin swims the farthest linear distance (location of where the marlin was tagged to the location of where the tag pops up). The winner of the Bermuda race will be eligible for the overall annual IGFA Great Marlin Race which includes a trophy and certificate from IGFA.

 

Race Duration

Satellite tags are programmed for 240 days and once the tag pops off the marlin, it floats to the surface and relays a summary of the stored data to Argos satellites back to the laboratory at Stanford University. Sponsors and participants will receive a full report of the race results once all tag data has been collected.

 

Cost

$4,000 covers the price of the tag, a titanium anchor dart, a stainless-steel applicator tip, satellite communication time, and materials involved in painting and programming the tag. IGFA and Stanford University make no profit from tag sales. All tag sponsorships are tax deductible in the United States as a charitable donation. Laws may vary in other countries.

 

 

Why Participate?

This is your chance to give back to your sport! Sponsoring a tag and deploying it safely in a blue marlin helps us understand more about North Atlantic blue marlin populations and fight for better international conservation measures for these iconic fish.

 

 

To sponsor a tag in Bermuda, please call or email IGFA Conservation Director Dr. Bruce Pohlot at 954-924-4223 or [email protected].