The Inland Bays Volunteer Fish Monitoring Program

Twice a month the Inland Bays Volunteer Fish Monitoring Program visits four study site locations around the bays to examine the biodiversity of aquatic fauna in the Rehoboth Bay. Last week, I was able to tag along and assist with the fish survey.

I met with CIB Policy Coordinator Roy Miller, a fellow citizen friend of the bays, and the leader of the program, Ron Kernehan at the CIB office. Our first study site was near the Indian River Inlet Marina. Roy and I seined about 40 feet of the shoreline at the location. The amount of fish in the net was astonishing ! Right away I could tell some species were way more prevalent than others. Striped fish, spotted fish, shiny fish, and some funny looking fish flopped around on the beach. I had no idea what most of these fish were called, and I’ve lived right alongside of the Inland Bays most of my life.

 

 Some of the more rare species found that day:
(Top-Left) Northern Pipefish
(Right) Striped Blenny
(Bottom-Left) Northern Puffer

 

Ron told me that it was important to get some fish into buckets faster than others because each species has a different tolerance out of the water. The four of us quickly picked through what must’ve been over a thousand fish, all while trying not to get our fingers pinched by small crabs hiding beneath them. We measured 50 fish of each species at random, then counted and released the rest. Although for some species we only had one or two fish. Some of the fish species found included: Summer Flounder, Striped Killifish, Northern Puffer, Bluntnose Ray, Striped Blenny, Atlantic Silverside, Mummichog, Northern Pipefish, and Spot. I gained a new understanding for the aquatic diversity of the Inland Bays that day, a truly rewarding experience.

More can be found about the Inland Bays Fish Monitoring program and our swimming friends that inhabit the bays at http://www.inlandbays.org/3159-2/