FISHERIES and AQUATIC ECOLOGY SERVICES






FISHERIES and AQUATIC ECOLOGY SERVICES

BIO-WEST is well known for its aquatic endangered species expertise in the Colorado River basin—including razorback sucker, Virgin River chub, woundfin, and Colorado pikeminnow—in the southwestern United States. This expertise allowed us to become involved with rare aquatic species in other areas of the United States.

Methods and Gear Types:


  • Instream Flow Incremental Ethodology (IFIM)
  • General Aquatics and Wildlife Surveys
  • Habitat Evaluation Procedures (HEP)
  • Habitat Quality Index (HQI)
  • Hankin and Reeves
  • Population Estimation and Mark/Recapture Techniques



  • Electrofishing
  • Fyke Nets
  • Gill and Trammel Nets
  • Hoop Nets
  • Light Traps
  • Minnow Traps
  • Seines


They use radio and sonic telemetry, surgically implant transmitters with internal or external antennae, track sonic-tagged fish (via air, ground, and water), and establish and maintain remote telemetry stations. Familiar with fish species throughout the western United States, BIO-WEST biologists work in small mountain streams, large reservoirs, Gulf Coast bays, and major rivers.

BIO-WEST provides the following services:

  • Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Sampling and Identification
  • Aquatic/Wildlife Surveys
  • Biological Assessments and Investigations
  • Diversion Structure Evaluations
  • Endangered Fish Studies and Recovery Activities
  • Fish Aging
  • Fish Sampling
  • Fish Stocking
  • Fishery Impact Analyses
  • Flow Recommendations
  • Habitat Evaluation
  • Habitat Improvement Structure Evaluations
  • Mechanical Fish Removal
  • Monitoring Plan Development, Study Design, and Research
  • National Environmental Policy Act Compliance
  • Native American Tribe Representation
  • Resource Management Plans
  • Section 7 Consultations
  • Stream Restoration
  • Taxonomic Analyses

Specific Fisheries Projects