Fish Sampling Fundamentals | |||
Collecting fish to determine what is going on with wild populations has a long and storied history. Today, effective sampling requires a sophisticated understanding of gear design, materials, and performance, vessel operations, target fish species behavior, and local habitat conditions. This archive strives to pass on the basic fundamentals of the complicated and multidisciplinary process that is fish sampling on to future generations of field biologists. The videos and associated web page content are organized by sampling gear type. If you’re not sure what gear type might be best for your application, you can start browsing around by selecting either passive gears (stationary gears that the fish swim to) or active gears (gears that are moved to capture the fish). This archive will be a continual work in progress as technologies change and new protocols emerge. So, keep checking back with us to see what we have added to the site. If you have questions or there is a cool piece of gear that is missing from the archive, please drop us a line at matthew_patterson@fws.gov and/or cecilia_melton@fws.gov. We would love to hear from you! | |||
The gear descriptions and deployment videos provided on this site are publicly accessible to support collaboration and knowledge-sharing among our partners. Please be advised that fish sampling is an inherently hazardous activity. It should only be performed by trained and experienced fisheries professionals. Proper execution requires:
These materials are intended for informational purposes only. We encourage you to explore and learn from the content—but do so with caution and responsibility. | |||
Fish Sampling Fundamentals | ||||
Active Sampling Techniques | Passive Sampling Techniques | Gear and Maintenance | Safety | Acknowledgments |
| Boat Electrofishing | Gill Nets | Anchors | Safety | Acknowledgments |
| Backpack Electrofishing | Hoop Nets | Floats | . | . |
| Barge Electrofishing | Trammel Nets | Lines | . | . |
| Electrofishing Accessory Gear | Trot Lines | Rope and Line Repair | . | . |
| Intro to Trawls | . | Net Materials | . | . |
| Benthic Trawls | . | Net Repair | . | . |
| Push Trawls | . | Stowage, Storage, and Maintenance | . | . |
| Surface Trawls | . | Tricks of the Trade | . | . |
| Electrified Benthic Otter Trawl | . | . | . | . |
| Electrified Dozer Trawl | . | . | . | . |
| Electrified Side Trawl | . | . | . | . |