Fisheries Management Section
of the American Fisheries Society
Book Development: Standard Sampling Methods for North American Freshwater Fishes
Objective
Standardization of procedures in production and data collection throughout industry, medicine and science has led to many great advances. However, sampling of inland fish populations across North America remains unstandardized, or at most, standardized at a state or local level. Our objective is to edit a text that will provide standard methods for sampling fish populations in various types of freshwater environments across North America. The goal will be to provide standard ways to obtain the most commonly used indices of fish population structure and abundance: presence, length frequency, relative weight, relative growth, and catch per unit effort.
With data sharing on the Internet, large-scale studies such as global warming, and advances in sampling equipment, the reasons for wide-scale standardization are more compelling than ever. Standard measures are necessary if freshwater conservation issues are to be addressed at large watershed or geographical scales involving interjurisdictional or international cooperation and rapid, electronic communication. Standardization is the basic, first step in establishing computerized information networks to disseminate information and data between fisheries managers, researchers, educators, legislators and the general public. Increased communication and data sharing would in turn lead to larger sample sizes and more powerful data sets to test the effects of regulations, habitat improvements or other management techniques, and to a reliable means to check for the presence of rare or endangered species. Having published, standard protocols would also lead to more efficient use of monitoring funds, reducing the amount of time and resources that all fisheries biologists and managers spend on developing sampling techniques and experimental designs.
The effects of wide-scale standardization may also improve the quality of fisheries education across North America. Widespread standardization within agencies and institutions across North America would likely lead to standardization of training courses, facilitating the cooperation and exchange of information and materials among educators and between educators, employers and students. Having a source of standard techniques that was developed by some of the most experienced and knowledgeable fisheries scientists in North America today; that were among the most common and statistically valid of those techniques currently used by government conservation agencies; and that were among the simplest methods possible, would be ideal for educators designing introductory courses in fisheries sampling. Moreover, training would closely mirror what a student would encounter in the work force, and employers would better understand the extent of new employee skills. Retraining of employees who move between states, provinces, agencies and institutions, an occurrence that is much more frequent today than 20 years ago, would be minimized if standards were widespread. Additionally, the averages of comparison data would be most useful to students and new employees, allowing them to identify abnormalities in their data that they may not otherwise have the experience to recognize. The standard methods will also closely reference and complement the fisheries statistics book to be published soon by the American Fisheries Society (Analysis and Interpretation of Freshwater Fisheries Data, M. Brown and C. Guy, eds.)
For all these reasons, standardization of sampling methods is fundamental to advancing freshwater fisheries conservation; therefore, it is critical that we begin this process immediately. In the 1980s and 1990s, work to move toward standardizing sampling procedures in the United States was conducted by the Fisheries Techniques Standardization Committee, Fisheries Management Section of the American Fisheries Society. This work resulted in a compilation of methods that were being used across North America; however, an actual selection of a subset of methods to standardize lake, pond, river, and stream surveys was never completed. Recently, the Fisheries Management Section of the American Fisheries Society, by a unanimous vote at the 2004 annual meeting in Madison, Wisconsin, has chosen to continue the work of the Fisheries Techniques Standardization Committee by supporting this book project with one of the largest grants ever given by the section. As opposed to simply describing a wide variety of methods, this text will provide a single set of recommended or standard protocols for various coldwater and warmwater environments.
Proposal Details
We propose to edit a text of several chapters, each chapter describing a standard method to sample fish in a particular type of freshwater environment. These environments will include small lakes and ponds, reservoirs, large natural lakes, wadable streams, and large rivers. The goal for the sampling methods will be to provide standard measures to describe fish sampling data including the most commonly used indices of population structure and abundance: presence, length frequency, relative weight, relative growth, and catch per unit effort. The methods will be chosen by a group of expert authors selected for each chapter. Authors of different chapters will communicate to ensure sampling techniques and chapter formats among types of environments are as similar as possible. The standard subset of methods for each environment type will be selected according to the following criteria.
It will be the most common and statistically valid of those used by government conservation agencies across the United States. If many groups are already using a particular technique, standardization will be much easier, both politically and logistically. The exception to this will be if a particular method is considerably flawed.
It will be the simplest method possible. Complex methods are much less likely to be standardized.
It will not be forced on any individual, group, or agency. A book such as this will be available to those who are starting standard monitoring programs and would like to start standardizing, or those who would like to change from a particular program to a more national program. Those who are already happy with local standardized sampling plans already in place will not be influenced to change.
It will provide national and regional averages of size structure, catch per unit effort, growth, and condition indices for common sport and non-game species (when available) collected using the standard techniques.
It will provide methods to transfer or compare data collected using another technique to that collected using standard sampling. If that is not possible it will discuss what comparisons are possible.
It will be updated in future years much like Standard Methods for the Measurement of Water Quality and Wastewater to reflect major advances in Fisheries Science.
It will not discuss standard habitat measuring techniques, except those used to standardize fisheries gear such as conductivity, secchi depth, and water color.
Sampling will focus on large juvenile and adult life stages that can be easily sampled with standard gears or begin to be of a size that may be harvested by anglers.
Sampling will involve methods that minimize mortality of fishes. Techniques such as toxicants and explosives will not be included.
Sampling will involve methods that allow for the identification of fish species and measurement of lengths and weights.
Chapter Authors/ Editors
(Authors after lead author in no particular order)
Editors:
Scott A. Bonar
Arizona Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
University of Arizona
104 Biological Sciences East
Tucson, Arizona 85721
Phone: (520) 621-1193
Fax: (520 621-8801
Email: sbonar@ag.arizona.eduDavid W. Willis
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences
South Dakota State University
NPB 138, Box 2140B
Brookings, SD 57007-1696
Phone: (605)-688-6121
Email: David.Willis@sdstate.eduWayne A. Hubert
Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Box 3166
Biological Science Building, Room 419
University of Wyoming
Laramie, WY 82071-3166
Phone: (307)-766-5415
Email: whubert@uwyo.edu
Chapter Authors
Introduction/ Principles of standardized sampling
Scott Bonar (Lead)
Arizona Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
University of Arizona
104 Biological Sciences East
Tucson, Arizona 85721
Phone: (520) 621-1193
Fax: (520 621-8801
Email: sbonar@ag.arizona.eduAlison Iles
Salvador Contreras-Balderas
Arizona Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
University of Arizona
104 Biological Sciences East
Tucson, Arizona 85721
Phone: (520) 626-8983
Fax: (520) 621-8801
Email: alisoniles@yahoo.com
Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon
Bioconservación, A.C.
Apdo. Postal 504
San Nicolás, Nuevo Leon 66450
Mexico
Phone: (837) 62-231
Fax: (837) 62-231
Email: saconbal@axtel.net
Warmwater fish in small standing waters
Kevin Pope (Lead)
Texas Tech University
Department of Range, Wildlife and Fisheries Management
P.O. Box 42125
Lubbock, Texas 79409-2125
Phone: (806) 742-6888 ext. 244
Fax: (806) 742-2280
Email: kevin.pope@ttu.eduRob Neumann
Scott Bryan
In-Fisherman, Inc.
7819 Highland Scenic Road
Baxter, MN 56425
Phone: 218-824-2562
Email: rneumann@in-fisherman.com
Arizona Game and Fish Department
2221 West Greenway Road
Phoenix, Arizona 85023
Phone: (602) 789-3250
Fax: (602) 789-3918
Email: sbryan@gf.state.az.us
Warmwater fish in large standing waters
Steve Miranda (Lead)
Mississippi Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Mississippi State University
P.O. Drawer Bx
Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762
Phone: (662) 325-3217
Fax: (662) 325-8726
Email: smiranda@cfr.msstate.eduJeff Boxrucker
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
Oklahoma Fishery Research Laboratory
500 E. Constellation
Norman, OK 73072
Phone: (405) 325-7288
Fax: (405) 325-7631
Email: jboxrucker@aol.comJohn Ney
Department of Fish and Wildlife Science
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia 24061
Phone: (540) 231-7292
Fax: (540) 231-7580
Email: jney@vt.edu
Warmwater fish in wadable streams
Charles Rabeni
Missouri Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit
302 Anheuser-Busch Natural Resources Building
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO 65211-7240
Phone: (573) 882-3524
Email: RabeniC@missouri.eduJohn Lyons
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
1350 Femrite Drive
Monona, Wisconsin 53716-3736
Phone: (608) 221-6328
Fax: (608) 221-6353
Email: lyonsj@dnr.state.wi.usNorman Mercado-Silva
Jim Peterson
Center for Limnology
University of Wisconsin - Madison
680 N. Park St.
Madison, WI 53706
Phone: (608) 263-2063
Fax: (608) 265-2340
Email: mercadosilva@wisc.edu
DB Warnell School of Forest Resources
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602-2152
Phone: (706) 542-5260
Email: peterson@smokey.forestry.uga.edu
Warmwater fish in rivers
Chris Guy (Lead)
Montana Cooperative Fishery Research Unit
Department of Ecology, Montana State University
301 Lewis Hall
Bozeman, Montana 59717
Phone: (406) 994-3491
Fax: (406) 994-7479
Email: cguy@montana.eduScott Rogers
Arizona Game and Fish Department
1535 1/2 S. Milton Ave.
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Phone: (928) 226-7677
Email: srogersagf@qwest.netJohannus Pitlo
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
24143 Highway 52
Bellevue, IA 52031-9068
Phone: (563) 872-4976
Fax: (319) 872-4945
Email: john.pitlo@dnr.state.ia.usPatrick Braaten
USGS
East Kansas
Ft. Peck, MT 59223
Phone: (406)-526-3253
Email: Patrick_Braaten@usgs.gov
Salmonids/coldwater species in small standing waters
Nigel Lester (Lead)
Aquatic Ecosystems Science Section
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
300 Water Street
Peterborough, Ontario K9J 6M5
Phone: (705) 755-1548
Fax: (705) 755-1559
Email: nigel.lester@mnr.gov.on.caPaul Bailey
Wyoming Game and Fish Department
3030 Energy Ln Ste 100
Casper, WY 82604
Phone: (307) 473-3418
Fax: (307) 473-3433
Email: paul.bailey@wgf.state.wy.usWayne Hubert
Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
University of Wyoming
Box 3166 - Biological Science Bldg. - Rm. 419
Laramie, WY 82071-3166
Phone: 307 766-5415
Fax: 307 766-5400
Email: whubert@uwyo.edu
Salmonids/coldwater species in large standing waters
Dave Beauchamp (Lead)
Washington Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
University of Washington
Box 355020
Seattle, Washington 98195-5020
Phone: (206) 221-5791
Fax: (206) 616-9012
Email: davebea@u.washington.eduRoy Whaley
Wyoming Game and Fish Department
3030 Energy Lane, Suite 100
Casper, WY 82604
Phone: (307) 473-3406
Fax: (307) 473-3434
Email: roy.whaley@wgf.state.wy.usDonna Parrish
Vermont Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
University of Vermont
312 Aiken Ctr
Burlington, Vermont 05405
Phone: (802) 656-2693
Fax: (802) 656-8683
Email: donna.parrish@uvm.edu
Salmonids/coldwater species in wadable streams
Jason Dunham
USGS FRESC Corvallis Research Group
3200 SW Jefferson Way
Corvallis, OR 97331
Phone: 541-750-7397
Fax: 541-758-8806
Email: jdunham@usgs.govRuss Thurow
U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station
316 E Myrtle Street
Boise, Idaho 83702
Phone: (208) 373-4377
Fax: (208) 373-4391
Email: rthurow@fs.fed.usAndy Dolloff
USDA Forest Service
Southern Research Station
Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA 24061-0321
Phone: (540) 231-4864
Fax: (540) 231-7580
Email: adoll@vt.eduGordon Haas
Institute of Marine Science
235 O'Neill
P.O. Box 757220
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Fairbanks, AK 99775-7220
Phone: (907)474-5231
Email: haas@sfos.uaf.edu
Salmonids/coldwater species in rivers
R. Allen Curry (Lead)
NB Coop. Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB.
Canada E3B 6E1
Phone: 506-452-6208
fax 506-453-3583
Email: racurry@unb.caRobert M. Hughes
Department of Fisheries & Wildlife
Oregon State University
200 SW 35th St.
Corvallis, OR 97333
Phone: (541) 754-4516
Fax: (541) 754-4716
Email: Hughes.Bob@epamail.epa.govMark McMaster
Environment Canada
Ecosystem Health Assessment
867 Lakeshore Road
PO Box: 5050
Burlington, Ontario
Canada L7R4A6
Telephone, (905) 319-6906
Fax: (905) 336-6430
Email: Mark.McMaster@ec.gc.caDave Zafft
Wyoming Game and Fish Department
528 South Adams
Laramie, Wyoming 82070
Phone: 307-745-4046
Fax: 307-745-8720
email: david.zafft@wgf.state.wy.us
Two-Story Fisheries
Phaedra Budy (Lead)
Utah Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Department of Aquatic, Watershed, and Earth Resources
5210 Old Main Hill
Utah State University
Logan, UT 84322-5210
Phone: 435-797-7564
Fax: 435-797-4025
Email: Phaedra.Budy@usu.eduRoger Schneidervin
Project Leader
Flaming Gorge/Green River Corridor Project
Utah State Division of Wildlife Resources
POB 145, 600 South Blvd.
Dutch John, UT 84023
Phone: (435)-885-3164
Fax: (435)-885-3180
Email: rogerschneidervin@utah.govChris Luecke
Department Head
Department of Aquatic, Watershed, and Earth Resources
5210 Old Main Hill
Utah State University
Logan, UT 84322-5210
Phone: 435-797-2463
Fax: 435-797-1871
Email: luecke@cc.usu.edu
Standards for comparison (Averages and Standards of Commonly-Used Fisheries Indices)
Mark Brouder (Lead)
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
AZFRO - Pinetop
PO Box 39
Pinetop, AZ 85935
Phone: (928)367-1953
Fax: (928)367-1957
Mark_Brouder@fws.govScott Bonar
Alison Iles
See Chapter 1
See Chapter 1
Data management and statistical analysis
Mike Quist (Lead)
Natural Resource Ecology and Management
Iowa State University, 339 science II
Ames, Iowa 50011-3221
Phone: 515-294-9682
Email: mcquist@iastate.eduKim Bonvechio
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
601 W. Woodward Ave.
Eustis, FL 32727
Phone: 352-742-6438
Email: Kim.Bonvechio@MyFWC.comMike Allen
Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
The University of Florida
7922 NW 71st St.
Gainesville, Florida 32653-3071
Phone: (352) 392-9617 ext. 252
Fax: (352) 392-3672
Email: msal@ifas.ufl.edu
msal@ufl.edu
Data conversion
Jim Peterson (Lead)
DB Warnell School of Forest Resources
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602-2152
(706)-542-5260
peterson@smokey.forestry.uga.eduCraig Paukert
Kansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
205 Leasure Hall
Kansas State University
Manhattan, Kansas 66506
Phone: 785-532-6522
Fax: 785-532-7159
Email: cpaukert@ksu.edu
Preventing Transfer of Invasive Species While Sampling
Stewart Jacks (Lead)
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
AZFRO - Pinetop
PO Box 39
Pinetop, AZ 85935
Phone: (928)367-1953
Fax: (928)367-1957
Email: Stewart_Jacks@fws.govRoger Sorensen
Arizona Game and Fish Department
2221 W. Greenway Rd.
Phoenix, AZ 85023-4399
Phone: 602-942-3000
Email: RSorensen@azgfd.govJeffery L. Gunderson
UMD Sea Grant College Program
D023
2305 E 5th St
Duluth, MN 55812
Phone: 218-726-8715
Fax: 218-726-6556
Email: jgunder1@umn.eduScott Smith
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North
Olympia, WA 98501-1091
Phone: 360-902-2724
Fax: 360-902-2944
Email: smithsss@dfw.wa.govSteve Sharon
Wyoming Game and Fish Department
Casper Regional Office
3030 Energy Lane, Suite 100
Casper, WY 82604
Phone: (307) 473-3400
Email: Steve.Sharon@wgf.state.wy.usRon Kinnunen
MSU Extension
710 Chippewa Square
Suite 202
Marquette, MI 49855
Phone: (906)-226-3687
Email: kinnunel@msu.edu
The Fisheries Management Section has contributed $10,000 to this effort, the US Geological Survey has contributed $17,380 in cash and in-kind services and the leadership of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has pledged $30,000 to the project. Contact with other federal agencies, foundations, and organizations, such as the Compton Foundation and the Education Section of AFS, is currently underway to obtain additional funds to fully support this project.
If you or your organization would like to help sponsor this project,
or for more details, please contact the Senior Editor: Dr. Scott
Bonar, E-mail: sbonar@Ag.arizona.edu.