The costs of sampling fishes in riverine habitats of a large river

摘要

Although funds for fisheries research are limited, the cost of sampling fishes has received little attention. Information about fish sampling cost can be used to estimate the cost of research and monitoring efforts, particularly if the number of sampling units needed to detect a difference has been determined in advance. We compared sampling costs for two sizes of hoop nets (61 and 122 cm, diameter) and two forms of pulsed DC electrofishing (1000 V/15 Hz and 500 V/60 Hz) in lotic habitats in the lower Mississippi River. Sampling costs were based on fish caught in completing 241 samples with 61 cm diameter hoop nets (H-61), 233 samples with 122 cm diameter hoop nets (H-122). 155 samples with 15 Hz electrofishing (E-15), and 165 samples with 60Hz electrofishing (E-60). Sampling costs included sampling equipment, sampling vessel and related equipment, and personnel. The fixed costs of equipment were represented by the depreciation of equipment and the opportunity costs of capital developed as annuity payments based on the equipment's total principal cost, operating lifetime, and a real interest rate charge. Cost per net-night hoop net sample was US