Fin Clip
Fin clipping is one of the oldest basic methods for marking fish. Fin clipping of the fleshy adipose fin is commonly used to indicate hatchery origin for salmonids. Fin clipping can also include spines of fins within a partial fin clip or even a complete excised fin. Fin clipping may be used for identifying a small number of individuals or large groups of fish. Fins may also be clipped to collect biological tissue for DNA studies.
Advantages:
- Inexpensive and easy to administer method for identifying large groups of fish.
Disadvantages:
- May not be a permanent morphological modification; fins may regenerate depending on the species and the fin clipped
- May decrease survival due to infection, decreased ability to compete for food, or increased probability of predation
- Limited number of mark configurations