Official State of Rhode Island website

State of Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management

Albie and Bonito

Little tunny with measuring card
Bonito with measuring card

Background

In 2025 the Rhode Island Division of Marine Fisheries began a pilot project to collect data on little tunny (also known as false albacore or albies) and Atlantic bonito. As part of this project, we began testing a cheap and effective way to measure these fish accurately in images. By providing anglers an item of known size to include in images of their catch, we can compare the size and position of the provided item to the fish to determine length. Following successful testing, our project partner Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA) [https://risaa.org/] purchased 520 plastic volunteer cards to give to fishermen in order for us to begin measuring little tunny and Atlantic bonito caught by recreational anglers. The goal is to use these measurements to supplement the current data streams for these species. 

Survey Design and Sampling Methods

This project is one of the largest citizen science projects ever instituted by RIDEM. We have built a coalition of anglers, for hire charter captains, and angling groups to provide us with images. Volunteers will be provided a plastic card and instructions on how to use this card in our study. Anglers will take a picture of their catch with the card against the fish. The images will then be sent to RI Division of Marine Fisheries either by using this online form https://forms.gle/RKMrUBHmva61BXBG8 or by emailing them to DEM.AlbiesBonito@dem.ri.gov. We ask that volunteers provide one image per fish and additional information such as the general area the fish was caught, date of catch, mode of catch, and if the fish was released or harvested. Scientists at RI Division of Marine Fisheries will then use ImageJ software to measure the fish based on the size of the card. 

To become a volunteer please email us at DEM.AlbiesBonito@dem.ri.gov or call 401-423-1932.

Sampling Frequency

Little tunny and Atlantic bonito are most prevalent in our region from late May to late September. Majority of image collection will take place during that period.

For more information, please contact Reuben Macfarlan at reuben.macfarlan@dem.ri.gov.