Hydrosurveys offer the services of a small specialist team to undertake scientific and valuation surveys of fish and shellfish.  Working to current WFD standards and gear specifications we deliver results either as a fully interpreted environmental assessment report with recommendations for mitigatiion, or simply as a data report to dovetail into broader assessments and interpretation by other companies.

In addition to scientific surveys, we undertake RICS 'Red Book' valuations of recreational and commercial fisheries including rod fisheries, shellfisheries and marine fishing businesses.  We provide independent assessments of the implications of engineeering works, exclusion zones or marine management schemes.  We act as professional valuers to DEFRA and several regional offices of the Marine Management Organisation to assess fishing vessels, licences and quota.

Deployment of a survey beam trawl

HYDROSURVEYS have extensive experience in conducting fish removal and rescue operations for river and canal engineering schemes.  We can mobilise an electrofishing or netting team at short notice and can provide aeration equipment with temporary holding facilities for emergency fish-rescue operations.  We monitor fish diseases and arrange post mortem examinations for Section 30 certification of fish movements.

Monitoring of fish health and parasites.  Photo above shows microscopic examination of fish gills to reveal ergasilid parasites.

Baseline and monitoring surveys are undertaken for river engineering schemes.  We have undertaken work with the Environment Agency as part of their rolling program for fish stock monitoring.  We monitor fisheries on behalf of water companies to assist with abstraction and discharge licence renewals.  We undertake valuations of recreational fisheries in connection with sales and aquisitions, and we provide expert reports for the purposes of loss assessment and litigarion.

• Thames Tideway Tunnel EIA. Fisheries assessment Thames Water/URS Scott Wilson .
• Thames Juvenile Fish Surveys : Environment Agency
• River Ouse Migratory Lamprey Study : Yorkshire Water
• River Taff Lamprey & fisheries Assessment: Welsh Assembly
• Bewl-Darwell & Medway/Rother Water Transfers: Fish disease monitoring : Southern Water
• River Towy Realignment : Fisheries baseline & impact monitoring : Welsh Assembly
• Fisheries EAs for Time Limited abstration licence renewals : Yorkshire Water
• Birmingham City Canals Rehabilitation Study : Fisheries British Waterways
• Wessex Migratory Salmonid Study :
  Wessex Environment Agency
• Schedules of stocks and dilapidations : Private trout farms

 

• 2) MARINE FISHERIES
• 

• Cockle & Mussel Fishery assessment and Valuation Eastern Wash: Natural England /Cumulus Cons.
• Mussel Stock Assessment and post scheme Monitoring Sea Defences : Lancaster City Council.
• Oyster Farm Valuations and impact assessments. Colne Estuary, Blackwater Estuary & The Wash. Environment Agency.
• Fisheries baseline and monitoring surveys North Hoyle Windfarm National Windpower.
• Mablethorpe/Skegness & Sea Palling Sea Defence Schemes. Shrimp & Fisheries baseline and post scheme monitoring: Env Agency Anglian Region.
• Fisheries monitoring Mostyn Dredge Disposal sites. Port of Mostyn, N Wales.
• Juvenile plaice surveys N Wales and NW England. CEFAS.
• Inshore Fishing Study Aldeburgh-Clacton: :
  Hastings Cutline Dredging Asscn .
• Racebank Crab Study for gravel extraction Env Aseessment Environment Agency.
• Fisheries Sectoral Reviews, Project identification & Appraisal missions World Bank, EU/EC and United Nations /FAO. .
  

Hand-anode electrofishing in shallow streams

For the assessment of freshwater fisheries we operate both shallow water and deepwater electrofishing equipment plus an assortment of seine nets, survey gill nets and Fyke nets.  Our surveyors are experienced in live fish handling and are trained in accordance with Environment Agency approved procedures for electrofishing.

For marine fisheries we operate survey beam and Agassi trawls.  Quantitative stock assessments of intertidaland and subtidal shellfish are undertaken using a combination of walkover and benthic grab surveys.

Deep-water electrofishing with high powered boom-anodes

Fish scale examination to assess age & growth

Marine surveys : Valuation and loss assessment

We have many years of experience in providing independent assessments of fishery related businesses and hardware in the UK and overseas.  We undertake valuations of fishing vessels, fishing licences and quota.  We act in an independent professional capacity to provide expert advice in connection with acquisitions, loss assessment, litigation and arbitration.

Offshore fishing vessel : Valuation of
vessels, licences and quota

Where fisheries have been disrupted as a result of temporary exclusion zones or interuption by engineering works, we can assist both parties in providing an independant expert assessment of the nature and extent of technical issues arising, and prepare a formal valuation of any immediate and long term losses.

Braer Oil Disaster, Assessment of fisheries impacts
Shetlands Islands Council