The updated Comprehensive PIT Tag Evaluation Procedure describes a series of laboratory tests used to determine whether candidate FDX-B PIT tags can be reliably detected by the network of interrogation systems deployed for the Columbia Basin Fish & Wildlife Program. These tests are performed exclusively for Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) procurement and are included here for transparency.
This revision adds technical details about the Automated PIT Tag Testing System (APTTS) to the appendices to help others replicate tag testing. The APTTS was developed several years ago through a multi-agency effort and the original contributors have since moved on. As a result, we cannot verify the accuracy of the archived documentation included here.
The PTAGIS program does not perform these tests or provide equipment for other agency purposes. However, we recognize the value of objective, repeatable PIT tag performance testing and encourage adaptation of these procedures where appropriate. These rigorous tests may exceed the needs of most PIT tag detection applications, as they were developed over decades to maximize detection under the region's unique conditions. This effort continues to support the collection of critical data used for research, monitoring, and evaluation of conservation efforts through the Columbia River Basin.