Fish identification tools for biodiversity and fisheries assessments

On-farm feeding and feed management in aquaculture

FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical Paper No. 585

Review and guidance for decision-makers

Edited by

Johanne Fischer
Senior Fishery Resources Officer
Marine and Inland Fishery Resources Branch
FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department
Rome, Italy

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Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Rome, 2013

ABSTRACT

Fischer, J. ed. 2013.
Fish identification tools for biodiversity and fisheries assessments: review and guidance for decision-makers.
FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical Paper No. 585. Rome, FAO. 107 pp.

This review provides an appraisal of existing, state-of-the-art fish identification (ID) tools (including some in the initial stages of their development) and shows their potential for providing the right solution in different real-life situations. The ID tools reviewed are: Use of scientific experts (taxonomists) and folk local experts, taxonomic reference collections, image recognition systems, field guides based on dichotomous keys; interactive electronic keys (e.g. IPOFIS), morphometrics (e.g. IPez), scale and otolith morphology, genetic methods (Single nucleotide polymorphisms [SNPs] and Barcode [BOL]) and Hydroacoustics. The review is based on the results and recommendations of the workshop "Fish Identification Tools for Fishery Biodiversity and Fisheries Assessments", convened by FAO FishFinder and the University of Vigo and held in Vigo, Spain, from 11 to 13 October 2011. It is expected that it will help fisheries managers, environmental administrators and other end users to select the best available species identification tools for their purposes.

CONTENTS

Preparation of this document Abstract Acknowledgements Recommendations

1. Introduction
2. User perspectives
	2.1	Fish taxonomy in biodiversity and fishery assessment and management
	2.2	A fishery inspector's view of fish identification
	2.3	Identification and commercial names of fishery products: a view from the industry
3. Species identification tools
	3.1	Species ID tools included in this review
	3.2	Criteria for the evaluation of species identification tools
	3.3	Evaluation of species identification tools
	3.4	Web-based fish identification and information resources
4. Selecting an identification tool
	4.1	Users
	4.2	Selection criteria
5. Description of scenarios
	5.1	Catch reporting by fishers (logbooks)
	5.2	Assessment of introduced fish species in a lake
	5.3	Monitoring catch during exploratory fishery
	5.4	Reporting catches of lake fisheries (exotic species)
	5.5	Reporting catches of marine artisanal fisheries
	5.6	Fingerlings of aquaculture species are correctly identified by suppliers
	5.7	Reduction of bycatch through pre-harvest survey
	5.8	Port inspections of fishery catches
	5.9	Vessel inspection on the high seas
	5.10	Live fish inspection by customs (CITES)
	5.11	Verification of origin of catches
	5.12	Fish product inspection by customs (CITES)
	5.13	Distribution and characteristics of populations
	5.14	Provision of data for the ecosystem modelling of living marine components
	5.15	Development of application to distinguish living objects from submarines
	5.16	Fish inventory for gear development to minimize bycatch
	5.17	Changes in species diversity due to climate change
	5.18	Taxonomic training of students
	5.19	Anglers track the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS)
	5.20	Assessment of genetically modified fish in waters and markets
	5.21	Corroboration of the geographic origin of fishes as documented in catch certificate
	5.22	Traded fish is labelled correctly
	5.23	Investigating the alleged presence of exotic and GM species
	5.24	Divers identify marine organisms
6. Conclusions
Annex 1 – List of participants
Annex 2 – Workshop agenda
Annex 3 – Participants' contributions

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