SeaTag: Design and Manufacture of a Family of Modular Archival Tags

The SeaTagTM project proceeds in Phase II to implement and test a family of micro observation stations that go beyond the concepts of traditional electronic data logging animal tags. These will include functions such as communication between SeaTagTM devices to obtain data from many animals when one tag is recovered or transmits. Deployment methods are extended to mounting on predators to monitor interaction with prey, static mounting on the sea-floor and on land, enabling the observation of both the animals under study but also the environment. ZigBee RF hot spots placed at known resting or nesting sites for amphibious animals will support unattended reading of data from tags while the tag remains on the animal. Solar power supports indefinite endurance and lifelong monitoring of animals. The emphasis on small size and low cost continues to enable tracing of more animals, both in terms of size and economic quantity.