ASTM D4211-21

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D4211 − 21
Standard Guide for
Fish Sampling
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4211; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope* 2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.1 This guide covers the use of lethal and non-lethal
D1129 Terminology Relating to Water
collection practices for fish.
D4131 Practice for Sampling Fish with Rotenone
1.1.1 Lethal practices include the use of rotenone and
antimycin which are used to collect or eradicate fish; numerous
3. Terminology
chemicals have been used but presently only rotenone and
antimycin are U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-
3.1 Definitions:
approved for this use.
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this standard, refer to
Terminology D1129.
1.2 Non-lethal collection practices typically do not cause
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
mortality to fish.
3.2.1 rotenone, n—an odorless, colorless, crystalline isofla-
1.2.1 Non-lethal practices include surface or bank
vone used as a broad-spectrum insecticide, piscicide, and
observation, underwater observation, gill netting, beach seines,
pesticide.
hoop nets, fyke nets, trap nets, electroshocking, minnow traps,
3.2.1.1 Discussion—This chemical is commonly used as
enclosure (pop drop and throw) traps, angler surveys, commer-
nonselective piscicide (fish killer).
cial surveys.
1.3 The focus of this guide is to provide sampling practices
4. Significance and Use
for fish collection. This standard does not cover the identifica-
4.1 Fish sampling includes a number of lethal and non-
tion of species or any statistical methods for the sampling data.
lethal practices.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
4.2 This guide provides an overview of commonly used fish
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
sampling practices.
standard.
4.3 This summary serves as a brief accounting of options
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
available to personnel responsible for determining the fish
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
sampling practice or practices that best serve the sampling
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
objectives.
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
5. Basis of Classification of Practices
Refer to the MSDSs for all chemicals used in this procedure.
5.1 Lethal Practices—The significance of using chemical
1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-
fishtoxicantsisthatmorecompletepopulationanalysesortotal
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
eradication, or both, can be accomplished. Target species can
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
be selectively eradicated by varying concentrations. This
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
provides a very effective tool in fisheries investigations and
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
management programs. Water conditions (that is, pH,
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
temperature, alkalinity, and so forth) and morphology can be
limiting factors.
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D19 on Water and is
the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.24 on Water Microbiology.
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2021. Published September 2021. Originally For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
approved in 1982. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as D4211 – 82 (2012) contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
which was withdrawn January 2021 and reinstated in September 2021. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/D4211-21. the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D4211 − 21
5.1.1 Rotenone—Rotenone used as a fish toxicant is highly mesh that extends behind the plane of the net is built into the
versatile and can be used effectively to collect fish samples; to midpoint, so that fish move into the bag as the net is pulled
eradicate fish; and to selectively remove certain fish species
forward.
(see Practice D4131).
5.2.5 Hoop Nets—This device traps fish inside a mesh
5.1.1.1 Its effectiveness is reduced in cold <20°C, and
enclosure. The mesh is supported by rigid frames or hoops.
dosage required increases with alkalinities. It may also elimi-
These frames were historically made of wood but today are
nate food web organisms. Fish may be repulsed from treated
usually made of aluminum tubing. The hoops may be round,
areas.
D-shaped or square. The tunnels are cones of mesh that are
5.1.2 Antimycin—Antimycin is versatile in the selective
attached to a pair of hoops, so that when the net is set and the
removal of scalefish or even more selectively against certain
hoops are separated the narrow end of the tunnel points to the
centrarchids (sunfish) and minnows.
rear. Usually there are two tunnels per net.
5.1.2.1 Its effectiveness is reduced in water with pH above
5.2.6 Fyke Nets—A fyke net is simply a hoop net to which
8.5.
wings and a lead (or leader) are attached. Wings are short
lengthsofmeshwithfloatandleadlinesthatareattachedtothe
5.2 Non-lethal Practices —Such practices are used when
lateral margins of the first hoop and extended at ;45º to the
the goal is to assess an ecosystem without changing it from the
longitudinal plane of the trap.Alead is a length of mesh that is
assessment perspective. Non-lethal practices are designed to
attached to float and lead lines and is fastened to the midpoint
meet assessment goals without the introduction of foreign
of the first hoop and extended forward parallel to the longitu-
chemicals or toxicants into the environment in which the target
dinal plane of the trap.
species exist.
5.2.1 Surface or Bank Observation—These employs visual 5.2.7 Trap nets are similar to a fyke net, in that it has wings
countsfromstreambanks.Itisapreferredmethodforassessing
and a lead attached and a tunnel or tunnels through which fish
fish populations when shallow water depths preclude underwa- enter, but it is does not have rigid frames. It relies instead on
ter observation or when alternative capture methods can cause
floats, weights and attachment to anchors or other fixed points
mortality and is to be avoided.Visual counts from streambanks
to maintain the shape of the enclosure. Trap nets have a seam
may also be combined with underwater survey methods.
in the top of the heart, the mesh box that contains the trapped
Counts from stream banks are relatively simple to perform and
fish, that is laced or zipped closed while the net is fishing but
require only a modest amount of equipment. The observer
can be opened to provide access so that fish can be removed,
should be trained how to identify the different species under
usually with a dip net.
investigation.
5.2.8 Electrofishing is the term generally applied to a
5.2.2 Underwater Observation—Underwater observations
process that establishes an electric field in the water to capture
can be made by snorkeling, by using SCUBA, or with
fish. When exposed to the field, most fish become oriented
underwater video
...