Team Achieves Electrofishing Certification on the ogwen
Over the past two days, the North Wales Rivers Trust team has been based in the beautiful Ogwen Valley, undertaking intensive electrofishing training with Paul Coulson from the Institute of Fisheries Management (IFM).
Electrofishing is one of the most effective and widely used methods for surveying fish populations in rivers and streams. The technique allows surveyors to temporarily stun fish in a controlled and safe manner, enabling them to be identified, measured, recorded and released unharmed. These surveys provide vital information about the health of our rivers and the status of important species such as salmon, trout, eels and other native fish.
The training combined classroom learning with practical experience in the river, covering equipment operation, fish handling, health and safety procedures, survey techniques, and data collection. The team gained valuable hands-on experience working in a range of river conditions and learning best practice methods used across the UK.
We are delighted to announce that the entire team successfully completed the course and is now fully certified to undertake electrofishing surveys.
The skills gained will play a crucial role in our future monitoring and conservation work across North Wales. By collecting robust data on fish populations, we can better understand the condition of our rivers, identify pressures affecting aquatic wildlife, and target restoration efforts where they are needed most.
Over the coming months, you'll see our survey teams out and about across catchments throughout North Wales. If you spot us working in your local river, please do come and say hello—we are always happy to explain what we're doing and how these surveys help protect and restore our freshwater environments.
A huge thank you to Paul Coulson and the Institute of Fisheries Management for delivering such an informative and enjoyable course.
Keep an eye on our social media channels for updates from the field as we begin our fish surveys across the region.
