FISH RESEARCH: WSF's The Great Fish Count (May 30, 2015)

Synopsis: The World Science Festival's "The Great Fish Count” was a free citizen-science event, in partnership with the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and environmental education programs at each specific sites. The event covered the five boroughs of NYC and sites in NJ, for a total of 14 Hudson River sites that were surveyed simultaneously. Its focus was on the ecology and diverse fish fauna of the Hudson River. Anyone was allowed to participate! Volunteers tried on waders (waterproof overalls), hauled a seine net, and discovered aquatic life in NYC and NJ waters. The event brought together ecologists, environmental scientists, and the public for a real scientific research endeavor. 

Project: World Science Festival's The Great Fish Count
Host: World Science Festival
Organizers: World Science Festival, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and environmental education programs at specific sites.
Website:  http://www.worldsciencefestival.com/programs/greatfishcount/


Date: May 30, 2015
Location: Multiple sites; this report only covers the Bloomer Beach site in Englewood, NJ. 

Bloomer Beach (Photo Credit: Peter J. Park)

Bloomer Beach Site Director(s): Peter J. Park and the Palisades Interstate Park Commission
Assistants: Andrew Wu, Pamila Ramotar-John, and Kishi John 

Participants: General Public
Methods: Seining 

Setting Up (Photo Credit: Semi Park)

Talking Seine Net (Photo Credit: Semi Park)

Environmental Variables:
Air Temp: 26.7 deg C
Water Temp: 21.7 deg C
Salinity: 14 ppt
Dissolved Oxygen: 6.0 mg/L


Species Caught (and Released):

Fish Species:

Bay Anchovy (Anchoa mitchilli)
Summer Flounder (Paralichthys dentatus)
Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis)
White Perch (Morone americana)

Summer Flounder (Photo Credit: Semi Park)

White Perch (Photo Credit: Semi Park)

Other Species:
Blue Claw Crab (Callinectes sapidus)
Shrimp (2 species)

Blue Claw Crab (Photo Credit: Andrew Wu)

"Grass" Shrimp (Photo Credit: Peter J. Park)

Sand Shrimp (Crangon septemspinosa) (Photo Credit: Andrew Wu)

The Great Fish Count: A Great Time Had By All!

Comments: In preparation for the Great Fish Count, Peter J. Park and Andrew Wu visited this site a week prior and observed two fish species that were not caught during this event.

Andrew using Seine Net (Photo Credit: Peter J. Park)

Northern Pipefish (Syngnathus fuscus)
Atlantic Tomcod (Microgadus tomcod)
 

Northern Pipefish (Photo Credit: Andrew Wu) 

Northern Pipefish (Photo Credit: Andrew Wu)   

Atlantic Tomcod  (Photo Credit: Andrew Wu) 

Follow-Up: Pamila Ramotar-John wrote an article on the Nyack College Fishing Club blog about her experience at this event as biologist and volunteer. Read it here: http://nyackfishingclub.blogspot.com/2015/05/reflections-from-2015-world-science.html


Additional Info: All procedures and activities described above were permitted by the NY DEC.

Acknowledgements: Special thanks to Margie Turrin (Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory) and Stephen Stanne (NY DEC) for inviting us to participate in this event!