Aquatic Ecology surveys and advice for all freshwater environments

Aquatic Ecology Surveys

We offer aquatic ecology surveys and services for all freshwater environments, with experience of operating throughout the UK and abroad.

Our ecological surveys are conducted in accordance with the latest industry standards and best practice, whilst adhering to our stringent health and safety protocols. We offer a multidisciplinary service drawing from our aquatic ecologists’ expertise in fisheries and fish ecology, macro-invertebrates, macrophytes, habitat surveying, water quality assessments and hydrographic surveying. Each of our aquatic ecologists is trained and accredited to work on or near water and understands the need for biosecurity, to prevent the spread of non-native invasive species.

With many years’ experience working in aquatic environments, we are well placed to provide cost-effective advice and to deliver the aquatic ecology survey services outlined below.

Our aquatic ecologists provide freshwater ecological surveys for rivers, lakes and streams (pictured: Brown trout Salmo trutta)

Fisheries and Fish Ecology

Carcinus provides a wide range of fish ecology survey, monitoring and analysis services. Our fisheries scientists have many years experience in the collection of robust fisheries data from freshwater environments throughout the UK and abroad.

Freshwater Fish Ecology Surveys

Having an in-depth knowledge of fish ecology, behaviour and habitat requirements ensures that our surveys are designed to be scientifically robust, meeting regulatory and client expectations. Our fish ecology surveys can be targeted to species of interest and their key life stages. Species include migratory fish (Atlantic salmon, sea trout, lamprey, shad and European eel), bullhead and other coarse fish. 

Our fish ecology survey services include:

Electro-fishing (back-pack and bank-side);

Seine netting;

Fyke netting;

Catchment walkovers to assess salmonid spawning and lamprey habitat;

Protected species assessment (e.g., native crayfish, lamprey, shad, Atlantic salmon, bullhead, spined loach, European eel, freshwater pearl mussel etc.); and

Common Standards Monitoring (CSM) condition assessments in accordance with the requirements outlined in the JNCC CSM guidance for freshwater fauna.

Carcinus ecologist undertaking electric fishing using a backpack system.

Fisheries Habitat Walkover Surveys

Our fisheries ecologists undertaken fisheries habitat walkover surveys within river catchments and typically include the main river channel and any tributaries (including permanently wetted drainage areas that may be used as fish refuge).

Fisheries Habitat Surveys

Our fish habitat surveys follow standardised protocols and provide a quantitative assessment of the in-channel and riparian features as well as geomorphological features of interest relating to key life stages and habitats utilised for spawning, nursery and foraging. The technique provides an excellent means of delineating the total area of differing habitats available to a broad range of species and allows commentary to be made in relation to the quality and condition of the waterway in relation to the ecology of fish species such as salmonids, lamprey, a wide range of coarse fish, grayling and protected species.

Surveyor undertaking fisheries habitat assessment survey – Our fisheries scientists undertake fisheries habitat walkover surveys to assess availability of key habitats and barriers to migration within a river catchment and support EIAs, Common Standards Monitoring (CSM) assessments and habitat restoration and enhancement.

A typical barrier to migratory fish species – Carcinus can undertake formal assessments of barriers to fish migration and provide advice in terms of mitigation and fish passage optioneering.

By using custom built fisheries habitat Geographical Information System (GIS) applications designed for efficient, robust and consistent field data collection, our aquatic ecologists can accurately and efficiently record and classify areas of fish habitats within a catchment. All field data is then quality assured and processed within GIS geodatabases to enabling us to provide high quality visual outputs, showing the classification and spatial distribution of habitat types, utilisation by key fish species and obstructions / obstacles to migration within a given catchment.

In addition to providing a broad assessment of fisheries habitat availability, the approach is also used to support Common Standards Monitoring (CSM) for Annex II species under the Habitats Directive such as river lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis, brook lamprey Lampetra planeri and sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus, allis shad Alosa alosa, twaite shad Alosa fallax, Atlantic salmon Salar salmo, bullhead Cottus gobio and spined loach Cobitis taenia when designated within a Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

Macro-Invertebrates

Our experienced freshwater ecologists deliver macro-invertebrate surveys for freshwater aquatic environments.

The community composition and abundance of macro-invertebrates within freshwater environments provides a valuable indicator to the health of a waterbody and its water quality.

Macro-Invertebrate Sampling and Analysis

Aquatic macro-invertebrates are sensitive to a range of environmental pressures making them valuable indicator species and are used for classification of waterbodies under the Water Framework Directive (WFD).  Our aquatic ecologists employ standard sampling methodologies, following current best practice. 

All samples are analysed, identified and enumerated by experienced freshwater taxonomists to family or species level as appropriate. Standard indices and approaches are used to analyse data including for flowing waters the River Invertebrate Classification Tool (RICT), Biological Monitoring Working Party (BMWP) and Average Score per Taxon (ASPT) and for ponds and lakes the Predictive System for Multi-metrics (PSYM) for ponds and lakes.

Freshwater macro-invertebrate – Our freshwater ecologists provide macro-invertebrate surveys, taxonomic identification and reporting for both running and still water environments

Catchment Walkovers and Ecological Assessments

Our ecology staff undertake ecological walkover surveys within river catchments and at standing waters to identify, map and classify aquatic and riparian habitats that are utilised by priority species. Surveys are undertaken utilising the River Habitat Survey (RHS) classification system or Lake Habitat Surveys (LHS) as appropriate.

Pragmatic and Proportionate

When planning our aquatic ecology field surveys, we always seek to ensure a pragmatic and proportional approach is taken and full consideration is given to the prevailing knowledge of baseline environmental conditions and the likely environmental impacts of a project. In this way, we deliver cost-effective aquatic ecological surveys that provide the necessary level of information needed to inform a robust environmental assessment and gain the approval of the statutory regulatory authorities.

All our ecology surveys are delivered in accordance with our robust internal health, safety and quality management systems. Staff are fully trained and equipped with the necessary tools and equipment to undertake the tasks required in a safe and efficient manner. All activities are fully risk assessed and a process of continuous review and reassessment ensures that our activities are undertaken in the safest possible way whilst ensuring the highest quality outputs.

More Information

If you would like more information, please view and download our Capability Statements, or read about our recent projects. Alternatively, you can contact us.

Capability Statements

Freshwater Ecology

Freshwater Ecology

Aerial Surveys

Aerial Survey

Recent Projects

Aquatic Ecology Surveys at Robins Creek

Carcinus Ltd were contracted to conduct a series of aquatic ecology surveys in a small creek near to Northfleet Harbour, Kent.

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Electrofishing Survey at Woodhouse Gully

Supporting Hampshire Council, Carcinus Ltd provided electrofishing surveys for salmonid presence absence within a tributary of the R. Hamble.

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River Habitat Survey & Impact Assessment

Carcinus Ltd was commissioned by Hampshire County Council (HCC) to deliver river habitat surveys and impact assessment consultancy services with a focus on fish ecology in support of a proposed flood alleviation project in Winchester on the River Itchen. The project was in its initial phases and a baseline characterisation of the existing fisheries and fish habitats and initial environmental assessment to inform engineering considerations was required.

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Lamprey Survey Population Assessment – River Itchen SAC SSSI

Carcinus Ltd was commissioned by Natural England and the Environment Agency to undertake a catchment wide lamprey population study on the River Itchen, Hampshire. The River Itchen is a designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The river forms part of Natural England’s “Hampshire chalk catchment” focus area and covers approximately 310 hectares of classic chalk river.

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Fish Habitat Assessment & Enhancement Study

Carcinus Ltd was commissioned by Hampshire County Council (HCC) to deliver fish habitat assessment surveys and habitat enhancement consultancy services in support of the high-profile Botley Bypass highways project. The project has been permitted after passing through the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process and planning phase. The scheme will involve the crossing of two watercourses, the first being the River Hamble by a new free-span bridge and the second located at Woodhouse Gully / Pudbrook Lake, where an existing culvert will be replaced.

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Aquatic Ecology, Habitat Restoration & Management Plan

Carcinus Ltd was commissioned by a Council as part of an amenity improvement drive to assess the aquatic ecology of a freshwater balance pond and produce a detailed habitat restoration and management plan. The pond was known to be suffering from a number of pre-existing ecological issues including heavy silting, lack of freshwater input and foul odours as well as excessive leaf fall, historic fish kills and infestation by invasive non-native species (INNS).

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