Monitor the habitat of fisheries
Overview
This standard is about monitoring the habitat of fisheries. It includes understanding habitat specifications, collecting information and reporting on habitats, including the condition of aquatic, bankside, buffer zone and substrate habitats, which involves routine and non-routine tasks.
This standard requires that the following is monitored within the fisheries habitat:
- water depth
- water flow/exchange
- bankside vegetation
- aquatic vegetation
- canopy cover
- silting
- aquatic invertebrates
- invasive species
- protected species.
This standard requires that you carry out work safely in line with relevant legal health and safety requirements and that you work to maintain bio-security and minimise environmental disturbance at all times.
The legislation controlling the application of this standard will vary depending on the location of the fishery – in England, Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
- carry out all activities required to safely monitor the habitat of the fisheries in line with relevant health and safety requirements
- select and use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for the work required
- obtain the planned habitat survey specification and relevant permissions, according to site requirements
- confirm access to the fishery according to riparian and fishery ownership
- monitor and record the condition of the habitat of the fishery
- sample and record details of aquatic invertebrate populations and plant communities
- take action to report the presence of protected or invasive species as required by legislation
- collect representative samples to accurately identify environmental conditions in the water body
- monitor and report on influences that impact on the fishery
- follow relevant fishery protocols for monitoring the habitats of fisheries
- maintain appropriate levels of bio-security when monitoring the habitat of fisheries
- maintain accurate information to keep up-to-date records on the habitat of fisheries
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
- the relevant health and safety requirements associated with monitoring the habitat of fisheries
- how to monitor the habitat of fisheries using recognised systems
- the different types of aquatic habitats and the fisheries they support
- the factors that can influence the condition of the aquatic habitat (human and environmental)
- the role of bankside habitat in maintaining a fishery
- the habitat requirements for the different life stages of fish
- the factors that influence the availability of food in a fishery
- how to recognise common invertebrates
- how to recognise common plant species using identification keys
- the significance of aquatic invertebrates to a fishery
- the factors that can influence spawning in a fishery
- the likely causes of bankside damage
- the influence of canopy cover on a fishery
- site designations and the protection and limitations these offer
- the plants within the fishery that require protection from humans and fish
- how to ensure fish passage is appropriate to allow fish to move freely without barriers
- the relevant riparian rights and fisheries ownership rights and how they vary
- the types of invasive and protected species and their impact on bankside and the habitat of the fisheries
- how to report invasive and protected species
- the importance of bio-security and its role in minimising risks to the fishery.
Scope/range
Scope Performance
Scope Knowledge
Values
Behaviours
Skills
Glossary
The definitions below should help you understand the standard:
Bankside
Area of ground including the bank adjacent to the water and the top of this area
Buffer zone
Area from the top of the bank to the major change in riparian vegetation or stock exclusion boundary
Canopy cover
Wetted area covered by tree or shrub canopies
Designation
Classifications that are applied to areas of land e.g. SSSI, SPAN.B
Habitat conditions:
- water depth
- water flow/exchange
- bankside vegetation
- aquatic vegetation
- canopy cover
- silting
- aquatic invertebrates
- Invasive species
Riparian
Wetlands adjacent to rivers and streams