Evaluating the Role of Boat Electrofishing in Fish Monitoring of the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta

The San Francisco Estuary is an incredibly diverse ecosystem with a mosaic of aquatic habitats inhabited by number economically, culturally, and ecologically important fish species. To monitor the temporal spatial trends this rich community, long-term monitoring programs within estuary use variety gear types to capture species across life stages habitats. However, concerns have been raised that current sampling gears may fail detect certain species—or stages—that inhabit areas are not accessible (e.g., riprap banks, shallow vegetated areas). Boat electrofishing one method has proposed supplement in upper estuary. In study, we used catch data from past boat studies, beach seine survey, couple long-running trawl surveys compare relative probability detecting various fishes these gears. Overall, found led notable improvements detection rates for many native non-native examined. was better at majority spring (20 out 38 species, 53%) fall-winter (24 34 70%) periods. Based on findings, recommend resource managers consider implementation survey help them their conservation planning