First Mola Tag pops up 460 miles from tagging location

We have just received exciting news from Dr Tierney Thys one the other side of the globe. Tierney advises us that the satellite tags attached to Mola mola just off Nusa Lembongan on October 11, 2008 surfaced and began transmitting data on Jan 08, 2009. 

Level three Argos positions indicated the clever little tag had parted company with the animal to which it was attached and was floating just two miles off the Island of Savu.

Level three Argos positions can pinpoint the location of the tag on the sea surface with an accuracy of within 150 meters of real position. You can use the file below to locate the tag using Google Earth. Simply save the file and open Google Earth.

The tagged Mola mola or Oceanic sunfish, traveled more than 460 Nautical in an ESE direction before the tag detached. While it is possible the animal has been captured and the tag is actually on a fishing boat, data and position transmissions continue with each pass of the satellite. 

The current position of the tag is about 90 miles West of Kupang moving in a North Easterly Direction. Efforts are currently underway to organise a team to attempt to physically recover the tag, in order the full data set can be retrieved.

Researchers are being frustrated by the remote location and lack of resources. Dr Tierney Thys estimates there is approximately 5 days of life left in the tags battery. The battery will fail on or around Jan 20, 2009. Time is running out. 

If you happen to be anywhere in the Kupang or East Flores region with a boat, a VHF radio, and a sense of adventure, we would love to hear from you.

download KMZ file and Open with Google Earth.

http://www.scubali.com/kmz/Bali Mola 2009 89298.kmz

http://www.scubali.com/images/mola/screen-shot.jpg

Michael Cortenbach.