Fishsuch

Fishsuch is a term used in environmental science and fisheries research to describe an integrated, multi-method approach to locating and characterizing fish populations in aquatic habitats. The concept emphasizes combining passive and active sensing modalities with biological sampling to produce a coherent picture of species presence, abundance, and distribution. The word appears as a portmanteau of 'fish' and 'search', with its popularization traced to regional fisheries literature in the 2010s, where researchers discussed a practical workflow for rapid assessment of fish communities.

In practice, fishsuch involves the use of hydroacoustic surveys (sonar to detect schools and biomass), underwater video or camera arrays for direct observation, capture-based sampling (nets or traps) to confirm species identity and collect biological data, and environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis from water samples to detect species presence even when individuals are not observed visually. Data from these sources are integrated through statistical models or machine-learning tools to estimate species distribution and abundance, accounting for detection probabilities and habitat features.

Applications include fisheries management, biodiversity monitoring, invasive species detection, and rapid ecological assessment in new or changing environments. The approach is valued for its potential to reduce environmental impact by limiting invasive sampling and enabling non-lethal surveys, though it can require substantial technical and statistical expertise, specialized equipment, and careful interpretation of disparate data streams.

See also: environmental DNA, hydroacoustics, biodiversity monitoring, integrated ecosystem assessment.