ELLSWORTH – A meeting that is open to the public to discuss the development of a cod-tagging program for the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, at the Holiday Inn, 215 High St.

The meeting will provide a forum for fishermen to talk about how to conduct a large-scale cooperative research program in the coming months.

Questions to be addressed are: What information do fishermen want from a cod-tagging program; what are the best ways to tag cod and to retrieve the tags; and who would be involved in a cod-tagging program.

The meeting is one of several with the fishing community throughout the region during January.

Representatives from the New England Aquarium’s conservation department are organizing and leading the meetings for interested people.

For information call Jennifer Dianto at (617) 573-0748 or Ted Ames, Stonington Fisheries Alliance, at 367-2473.