Identification

Title

2013 onwards, Sussex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA), Cuckmere, biannual small fish surveys by beach seine

Abstract

The Sussex IFCA in collaboration with the Environment Agency (EA) undertake biannual small fish surveys at two sites near the entrance of the Cuckmere river during spring and autumn each year, the first survey being in spring 2013. The IFCA standard operating procedure for surveying small fish is used (a copy of this document is held by the IFCA) and the methodology conforms with the Centre for Environment and Fisheries and Aquaculture (Cefas) advice for surveying juvenile bass. One survey method is used; a beach seine. All fish caught are identified to species level. The first 50 of each fish species are measured (total length from snout to tip of tail) with the remainder being counted. In addition, fork length is measured for bass, and for all bass greater than 21cm a scale sample is taken for age determination. The surveys are always conducted at slack water and at similar tidal heights. Additional information recorded includes; Water analysis (temperature, salinity, specific conductivity, dissolved oxygen (percentage and mg/L) and pH ), tidal state, tidal height, persons present, fish identifier and meteorological information. The data is currently stored in MS Excel spreadsheets. The objective of monitoring small fish is to develop a time series of relative abundance in the near shore habitats (areas which are commonly utilised by juvenile fish as nursery grounds). The information collected has many applications e.g. to monitor abundance over time, to investigate responses to specific events or to investigate the growth rate of a species.

Resource type

dataset

Resource locator

Unique resource identifier

code

SXIFCA0000005

codeSpace

Dataset language

eng

Spatial reference system

code identifying the spatial reference system

urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::4326

Classification of spatial data and services

Topic category

oceans

biota

Keywords

Keyword set

keyword value

Keyword set

keyword value

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

revision

effective date

2008-01-06

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

revision

effective date

2009-11-16

Geographic location

West bounding longitude

0.1546

East bounding longitude

0.1549

North bounding latitude

50.7576

South bounding latitude

50.7575

Extent

Extent group

authority code

title

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2009-06-18

code identifying the extent

Eastern Channel

Extent group

authority code

title

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2009-05-01

code identifying the extent

30E9

Extent group

authority code

title

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

1954-01-01

code identifying the extent

English Channel

Extent group

authority code

title

reference date

date type

effective date

code identifying the extent

Temporal reference

Temporal extent

Begin position

2013-06-14

End position

2024-04-17

Dataset reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2013-12-11

Frequency of update

biannually

Quality and validity

Lineage

The fish species identifier was a qualified and competent marine biologist and had completed small fish identification courses. Where species identification was difficult, samples were sent to a specialist for species verification (eg: the Natural History Museum, London). All fish lengths were measured to the nearest millimeter. Water chemistry parameters are gathered using a 'YSI professional Handset, Multi-parameter Proseries Instrument'.

Conformity

Data format

name of format

version of format

Constraints related to access and use

Constraint set

Use constraints

Use for research or education acceptable if originators are acknowledged.

Constraint set

Limitations on public access

Use for research or education acceptable if originators are acknowledged.

Responsible organisations

Responsible party

contact position

Data Manager

organisation name

Sussex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority

email address

admin@sussex-ifca.gov.uk

responsible party role

originator

Responsible party

contact position

Data Manager

organisation name

Sussex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority

email address

admin@sussex-ifca.gov.uk

responsible party role

custodian

Metadata on metadata

Metadata point of contact

contact position

Data Manager

organisation name

Sussex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority

email address

admin@sussex-ifca.gov.uk

responsible party role

pointOfContact

Metadata date

2013-12-11

Metadata language