Fish and Fish Habitat Inventory Methods

Course Description

The Fish and Fish Habitat Inventory Methods (FFHIM) is an intensive, ‘hands-on’ three or five-day practical review of standard North American fish and fish habitat inventory and assessment methods. This applied program is largely field-based, where course participants will learn how to conduct comprehensive and quantitative fish and fish habitat inventory and assessment methods

Objectives

Upon successful completion, participants will be fully-qualified and able to conduct standard North American fish and fish habitat inventory and assessment procedures, including:  

• Manage an electrical field in an electrofishing operation
• Operate an electrofishing unit to reduce potential injuries to crew, animals and the environment
• Maximize electrofishing results through effective field strategy
• Conduct a safe and effective electrofishing field session
• Operate standard fish habitat and fish capture field equipment
• Conduct standard fish habitat assessment measurement procedures
• Identify and quantify fish habitat features and fish habitat requirements
• Recognize fish habitat(s) use by fish species and life stage
• Quantify fish habitat for a given fish species and life stage
• Conduct standard fish habitat assessment data collection
• Operate standard fish inventory equipment
• Conduct quantitative fish inventory procedures (Catch-per-unit-of-effort, multi-pass removal, etc.)
• Calculate fish population estimates using standard procedures
• Conduct field hydrology procedures including flow metering
• Identify and quantify fish habitat disturbance indicators

Format

The FFHIM has two enrollment options: a three-day course (24 hours) (where current and valid BC Electrofishing Certification is the prerequisite) and five-day course (40 hours) (that includes Electrofishing Certification as one course module).

Prerequisites

No perquisites exist for the five-day FFHIM course. A current and valid BC-issued Electrofishing Certification is a mandatory perquisite for the three-day FFHIM course.

You Supply

• Classroom supplies (includes clipboard, rulers, pen, paper, calculator)
• Appropriate field gear, including chest waders and appropriate field wear

Upcoming Deliveries and Registration Information

See our program schedule for a list of all upcoming NREP course deliveries. If this course is not currently noted in the schedule, please contact NREP@viu.ca to enquire about future opportunities. Prior to registering for any NREP course, please review the program's registration guidelines, including important cancellation and refund policy information.