International sea angling event to gather data for scientists in the Solent

Researchers from the University of Portsmouth will be attending this weekend’s Orvis Fly Fishing Festival (30 August - 1 September), to gather valuable information on the Solent seascape. 

The team will be using the power of citizen scientists, by asking the competing anglers to document their catches. This will support efforts to improve fisheries management and sustainable fishing. 

It is part of the Competitive Angling as a Scientific Tool (CAST) project, which aims to expand our knowledge of fish species across the UK by using data collected from local sea angling competitions.

CAST launched earlier this year at the annual Sea Angling Classic competition, which runs in June from Port Solent, and is funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

Project lead, Dr Ian Hendy from the University of Portsmouth’s Institute of Marine Sciences (IMS), said: “Citizen science is an incredibly valuable tool for researchers, as it provides a novel insight into the distribution, life stages and habitat preferences of data poor fisheries in the Solent.

“Collecting ecological data on fish also requires a significant investment of time and money, so utilising recreational anglers opens up research opportunities that would otherwise be unobtainable.”

Researchers will gather geolocated images of each fish caught (taken by the teams), perform targeted sampling (e.g. DNA swabs), and undertake sonar scans of the fished areas. Together, these will generate a unique dataset for each species on their:

• Biology (species identification, growth, disease condition and reproductive state)
• Ecology and habitat preference (spatial distribution, habitat utilisation)
• Genetic identification

“We are interested in length and habitat information of catches so we can understand what is being caught and at different habitats and ground type”, explained Georgie Banfield, Research Associate at the IMS.

“We never share locations of fishing marks outside of our project team. We use these data to understand the patterns between fish species and habitat preferences. This will help inform effective management of spawning areas for example.”

The CAST project team will also be collecting photos of the fish caught on measuring boards, as part of the development of a new AI software. It will help identify species based on their morphometrics, size, colouration and other factors, with far-reaching applications outside of this project.

Anglers can share their photos of fish on measuring boards, or any taken outside of the competition, to help develop this software. Please email christina.hunt@port.ac.uk to receive a link to upload them. The team is also on social media, including Facebook and Instagram.

Aaron Rawling, Managing Director of Orvis UK, said: “We are delighted to be collaborating with the University of Portsmouth's CAST Project this year at the Orvis Saltwater Fly Fishing Festival. Going into its 5th year, the event has grown to one of the largest of its kind in Europe. 

“Conservation is a core value of Orvis UK and so this is a perfect fit where the competitors can help provide useful data to CAST to in order to develop sustainable fishery management plans whilst also enjoying everything the festival has to offer. We hope this will be the first of many joint ventures with the University of Portsmouth and the CAST team.”

The project, involving the University of Portsmouth, Angling Spirit and the Southern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority, was awarded over £560,000 from DEFRA under the Fisheries Industry Science Partnerships (FISP) scheme.