Skip to content

Fisheries Reference Resources

Grzimeks Animal Life Encyclopedia: Fishes

Reference materials serve a variety of purposes and can sometimes be used effectively in searching the scientific literature. Reference materials can be used to:

Following are reference materials of interest to the fisheries scientist and manager. They are organized by category of reference material rather than subject. Resources marked with a are key resources or databases.

Literature Guides


Literature guides in general focus on the organization of research literature in a specific field and and commonly contain an annotated list of reference materials. Although there is no separate guide to fisheries literature, the following sections within larger works are useful. This research guide also functions as a literature guide.

  • "Commercial Fishing and Fisheries" IN Guide to Sources for Agriculture and Biological Research (Blanchard) 1981 (ref S 493 G85)
  • "Fish and Fisheries Literature Resources: An Annotated Bibliography." American Fisheries Society Transactions 100:403-422, 1971.
  • "Fishes" IN Guide to Reference and Information Sources in the Zoological Sciences (Schmidt) 2003 (ref QL 45.2 S35 2003) Includes sections on indexes and bibliographies; core journals; dictionaries and encyclopedias; checklists, taxonomics works and field guides; handbooks; key works by systematics and geography. Includes both print and Internet resources.
  • "Finding Literature and Reports" IN Fisheries Techniques (Nielsen & Johnson) 1983 (SH 332 F55)
  • Keyguide to Information Sources on Aquaculture (Turnbull) 1989 (ref SH 135 T82 1989)

Dictionaries and Encyclopedias


These resources provide definitions of discipline-specific terminology and/or general introductions to topics and concepts in fisheries. Many encyclopedias include references to important "primary" literature on a specific topic .

Directories


Directories are commonly alphabetical or subject listings of people, organizations, places, or animals. See also the Internet Directories/Portals/Gateways section.

Scientific Reviews


Scientific reviews or "state-of-the-art" papers critically survey a narrow topic in a discipline. Review papers identify and evaluate research which has appeared in the "primary" literature and include extensive bibliographies. Scientific reviews typically appear in annual publications entitled "Annual review of ..." or "Advances in ...", as well as in research journals, especially those which have "review" as part of the title. As part of a search strategy review papers are an excellent "research tool" to use since they pull together information on the existing state-of-knowledge on a specific topic.

There are several ways to locate scientific reviews:

  1. Many annual review series have cumulative indexes.
  2. Individual review papers are commonly included in Fisheries Indexes. Create a search using the keyword "review" as part of your search strategy.
  3. The "Annual Review of ..." publication series has a cumulative index which search all reviews from 1984 to the present.

Annual reviews of interest in fisheries include:

  • Advances in Aquatic Microbiology (QR 105 A38)
  • Advances in Ecological Research (QH 540 A23)
  • Advances in Marine Biology (QH 91 A1 A22)
  • Advances in the Study of Behavior (QL 750 A38)
  • Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics (QH 540 A53) fulltext also available in JSTOR from 1970 to five years before the current year.
  • Annual Review of Fish Diseases (HSU Users Only)
  • Ocean Yearbook (GC 1 O2) Annual series sponsored by International Ocean Institute containing topical articles on major ocean issues of the year ranging from political to scientific.
  • Oceanography and Marine Biology: an Annual Review (GC 1 O32)
  • Quarterly Review of Biology (Periodical QL 301 Q3)

Bibliographies


Bibliographies are compiled lists which gather together known research on a specific topic. They are generally more useful for retrospective rather than current searching. There are many specialized bibliographies in fisheries. Fish and Fisheries Worldwide index lists over 3,000 fisheries bibliographies. Listed below are selected bibliographies which cover general subjects, species, or emphasize California and Pacific coast fisheries.

  • Subject
    • Annotated Bibliography of Fishing Impacts on Habitat (Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission) Contains over 570 references to papers dealing with fishing impacts on habitat and the marine environment.
    • BIMAQUE Bibliography (Institute of Marine Biology of Crete) Covers the anthropogenic effects of fishfarming on the environment.
    • Bibliography of Fishes (Dean) 1916-1923 (ref QL 615 D43) Monumental three volume bibliography covering fisheries literature through approximately 1915. Entries arranged by author with a subject index.
    • Bibliography of Genetic Variation in Natural Populations (Allendorf) Contains over 60,000 references on the genetic variations in natural populations of fish.
    • BCN Bibliography (Smithsonian Institute. National Museum of Natural History) Contains over 15,000 references on conservation biology that have appeared in the Biological Conservation Newsletter since 1983.
    • Diseases and Parasites of Fishes: An Annotated Bibliography of Books and Symposia, 1904-1977 (Mann) 1981 (Fish Disease Leaflet 53) (Docs I 49.28/3:53)ecosystem.
    • Effects of logging, other forest industries and forest management practices on fish: an initial bibliography (McDonald) 1988 (Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences #1622) (SH 223 A349 #1622)
    • The Effects of Temperature on Invertebrates and Fish: A Selected Bibliography (Kennedy & Mihursky) Includes approximately 3,500 references. Most date before 1993 with selective coverage of more recent literature.
    • Fish Passage at Road Crossings: an Annotated Bibliography (Anderson and Bryant) 1980 (USFS General Technical Report PNW-117) (Docs A 13.88: INT-117) Includes 44 annotated references.
    • Fish Passage through Culverts: an Annotated Bibliography (Six Rivers National Forest Watershed Interactions Team) Includes 96 annotated citations on culvert design for fish passage, risk analysis, and fish swimming ability. Part of the larger FishXing web site that contains software and other resources related to fish passage through culverts.
    • Indexed Bibliography on Stream Habitat Improvement (Duff) 1986 (SH 157.8 D84)
    • Managing for Enhancement of Riparian and Wetland Areas of the Western United States: An Annotated Bibliography (Koehler and Thomas) 2000 (Docs A 13.88: RMRS-54) (USFS General Technical Report RMRS-GTR-54) Includes approximately 2000 references on riparian and wetland management.
    • Mobile Fishing Gear Effects on Benthic Habitats: A Bibliography (Dieter, Wion, and McConnaughey.) 2003 (NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-AFSC-135) Comprehensive listing of scientific and popular literature on demersal mobile fishing gear and its effects on the environment.
    • Selected Bibliography on Diseases and Parasites of Fishes: Books, Proceedings and Reviews, 1978-1989 (Mann) 1989 (Fish Disease Leaflet 81) (print copy available in Docs I 49.28/3:81)
  • California & the Pacific Northwest
    • Annotated Bibliography: Fisheries Species and Oil/Gas Platforms Offshore California (MBC Applied Environmental Sciences) 1987. Contains 879 references on important fisheries species offshore California and on the ecology of fish and invertebrates which associate with oil and gas platforms offshore California.
    • Annotated Bibliography of Research in Economically Important Species of California Fish and Game (California Department of Fish & Game) 1958-1974 (ref QL 628 C2 S36) Lists research published from 1800s to 1974 on California's fish and wildlife ..."species having a bearing on California's economy.'' While most of the cited literature is scientific in nature articles in trade magazines and popular sports magazines are included. The main work includes literature up throught 1958 and is arranged chronologically within groups. Following the main work there are two-year supplements that cover literarture through 1974.
    • Bibliography of the effects of logging on fish of the Western United States and Canada (Gibbon) 1974 (General Technical Report PNW-10) (Docs A 13.88 PNW-10)
    • Bibliography of the Fishes of the Pacific Coast of the United States to the End of 1879 (Gill) 1882 (U.S. National Museum Bulletin #11) (Docs SI 3.3:11) Historical bibliography.
    • Columbia Basin Research Literature Database (University of Washington School of Fisheries) Includes literature on salmon biology and the Columbia and Snake Rivers.
    • Food Habits Literature of North Pacific Marine Fishes: A Review and Selected Bibliography (Livingston) 1983 (NOAA Technical Memo NMFS F/NWC-54) (Docs C55.13:NMFS F/NWC 54)
  • Species
    • Bibliography of the Early Life History of Fishes (Hoyt) 1988 (print copy available in QL 639.25 H69 1988) Provides 13,717 references on the early life of fishes.
    • Bibliography of the Ephemeroptera (Hubbard) A "working bibliography of literature on the Mayflies" containing over 3.500 references.
    • Bibliography of Sturgeons (Kievany & Birstein)
    • Elasmoworld Reference Database (Elasmoworld) Includes over 9,000 references on sharks and rays.
    • Guide to the Literature on the Systematic Biology of the Pacific Salmon (Wilimousky & Freihover) 1957 (Special Scientific Report - Fisheries #209) (Docs C 55.13 NMFS-SSRF-209) Classified bibliography of literature prior to 1955 on the biology of six Pacific salmon species. Used as a basis for the Pacific Salmon Literature Compilation, 1900-59.
    • Migration and Movement of Pacific Salmon, Atlantic Salmon and Steelhead Trout-A Bibliography 1900-1982 (Shepard) 1985 (Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Science #1413) (SH 223 A349)
    • Salmonid-Habitat Relationships in the Western United States: A Review and Indexed Bibliography (Marcus, Young, Noel, & Mullan) 1990 (USFS General Technical Report RM-188) (Docs A 13.88:RM-188)
    • Shellfish Research Webliography (Pacific Shellfish Institute) Includes over 3,000 references on scientific articles and papers on shellfish research. Search by species and subtopic.
  • Government Agencies. For bibliographies of federal and California state agency publications see the Natural Resource Agency Government Documents and Reports research guide.
    • Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
      • FAO Catalog Includes all documentation and publications produced by FAO since 1945. Provides links to those available in fulltext.
      • FAO Fisheries Department List of Publication and Documents 1948-1978, 1977-1990 (SH 1 F103 #100) Listing by publication series; no indexes.
      • Fisheries: Annotated Bibliography, FAO Publications and Documents 1945-1969 (ref SH 439 F67) Bibliography with indexes to all FAO publication on fisheries.
    • Canada
      • Index and List of Titles, Fisheries Research Board of Canada and Associated Publications (Canada Department of Fisheries & Oceans) 1900-1964, 1965-1972 (abstr SH 1 C36) Updated annually in the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences through 1994.
      • WAVES (Canada Department of Fisheries & Oceans) Includes all DFO publications except for journal articles.

Treatises and Other Comprehensive Databases


Treatises are authoritative compilations that summarize the state of knowledge in relatively broad fields of study. They tend to be wider in scope than "reviews" and are well documented with frequent references to "primary" literature. Also included in this section are databases that are comprehensive and broad in their scope.

  • Subject
    • Fish Diseases and Disorders (Woo) 1999 (SH 171 F575 1995) Three volumes
    • Fish Physiology (Hoar) 1969- (QL 639.1 H6) Multi-volume treatise
    • Marine Ecology; a Comprehensive Integrated Treatise on Life in the Oceans and Coastal Waters (5 volumes in 12 parts) 1970-1984 (Kinne) (QH 541.5 S3 K5)
    • Rivers of the United States (Patrick) 1994- (GB 1215 P29) Multi-volume treatise with both subject and geographic focus.
    • Treatise on Limnology (Hutchinson & Edmondson) 1957-1993 (4 volumes) (QH 98 H82)
    • Treatise on Marine Ecology and Paleoecology (Hedgpeth) 1957 (Geological Society of America Memoir #67) (QE 1 G29m #67) First major treatise on marine ecology.
    • United Nations Atlas of the Oceans (United Nations) Continuously updated database that contains information on the sustainable development of the oceans and the state of ocean resources. It is designed for use by policy makers, scientists, students,and resource managers. There are four main entry points: 1) About the Ocean provides information on the history, physical charactistics, biology, and ecology of the oceans, including maps and statistical information; 2) Uses of the Ocean provides information on ocean utilization , including tourism, mining, fishing, ocean dumping, and marine biotechnology; 3) Issues of the Oceans focuses on food security, climate change, human health and governance; and 4) Geography of the Oceans provides information categorized by geographical area.
  • California & the Pacfic Northwest
    • California Natural Diversity Database (California Department of Fish & Game) A fee-based database that contains location-specific information on California's endangered, threatened, and rare plants, animals, and natural communities. Data can be used to make conservation decisions, aid in better siting of development projects,and provide baseline data helpful in recovering endangered species and for research projects. Information can be retrieved by taxa, county, or USGS 1:24,000 scale topographic quadrangle. Products include text reports, detailed 1:24,000 quad overlays, gis layers, the standalone Rarefind application, and the free California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) Quick Viewer interactive mapper that lists species or natural communities that have been documented to occur within a 1:24,000 quad.
    • California Rivers Assessment (International Center for the Environment) Database of environmental information on each of California's 143 river basins.
    • Community Profiles (US Fish & Wildlife Service) (Docs I 49.89:various numbers) A series of 55 profiles published in the 1980s covering specific freshwater, wetland, marine, and estuarine environments in the United States. A list of Community and Estuarine Profiles is available with links to fulltext when available.
    • Distribution and Abundance of Fishes and Invertebrates in West Coast Estuaries. Vol. I Data Summaries; Vol. II Species Life History Summaries (Monaco & Emmett) 1990-91 (QL 139 D58 1990) Presents information on the temporal and spatial distribution, relative abundance, and life history characteristics of 47 ecologically and economically important fishes and invertebrates in 32 estuaries along the contiguous west coast of the US. Volume I presents tabular data on species spatial distribution and relative abundance by salinity zone and life stage in each estuary; and species monthly temporal distribution by estuary. This same data is also available in the Estuarine Living Marine Resources ELMR) Database. Volume II contains 3-4 page life history summaries that emphasize a species occurence and distribution in estuaries. Topics covered include value, range, life mode, habitat, reproduction, growth and development, food and feeding, and biological interactions. Produced as part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Estuarine Living Marine Resources Program.
    • Ecological Characterization of the Central and Northern California Coastal Region (Jones & Stokes Associates) 1981 (QH 105 C2 E36 1980 Hum Co Coll) 5-volume survey prepared for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Contains summaries of individual habitats and species found in the region.
    • Ecological Characterization of the Pacific Northwest Coastal Region (Proctor)) 1980 (Docs I 49.2 Ec7/8) Five-volume survey prepared for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Contains an extensive summary of habitats and species found in the region.
    • History and Status of Introduced Fish in California 1871-1996 (Pilland & Cordone) 1997 (Fish Bulletin #178) (print copy available in Cal Docs F 650 F5 #178) Comprehensive and fully documented history of fish introductions in California. Includes accounts of 53 species that have been introduced and successfully established (out of 111 total species found in the state). Also includes accounts of introductions with uncertain status, species that were not successfully introduced, and species that are candidates for introduction.
    • Humboldt Bay, California, a Literature Survey (University of Washington Department of Oceanography) 1955 (GC 856 W35 Hum Co Collection) Literature survey along with accompanying bibliography. The bibliography portion was updated through 1969 by A Partial Bibliography on Humboldt Bay (GC 856 P37 Hum Co Collection)
    • Inland Fishes of California (Moyle) 2002 (ref QL 628 C2 M68 2002) Authoritative work on the freshwater and anadromous fish of California that provides a taxonomic key, information on the ecology of California's six major drainages and species accounts for 132 fish species, both native and exotic. Each illustrated species account includes information on systematics, distribution, life history, status and management, and bibliographic references.
    • Summary of Knowledge of the Central and Northern California Coastal Zone and Offshore Area (Winzler & Kelly Consulting Engineers) 1977 (ref GB 458.8 W56) Extensive survey of the knowledge of this area up through 1974 compiled for the Bureau of Land Management. Contains an 800-page bibliography.
    • Summary of Knowledge of the Oregon and Washington Coastal Zone and Offshore Areas (Oceanographic Institute of Washington) 1977 (microfiche MC 1473) Extensive survey of the knowledge of this area up through 1977 compiled for the Bureau of Land Management.
    • Western Lake Survey: Characteristics of Lakes in the Western United States (US Environmental Protection Agency) Vol. 1 Population description and physio-chemical relationships; Vol. 2 Data compendium for selected physical and chemical variables (Docs EP 1.23:600/3-86-054)
  • Species
    • Aquaculture Sourcebook: A Guide to North American Species (Iversen & Hale) 1992 (ref SH 33 I94) Contains descriptions of over 100 species of aquacultural potential.
    • Fishbase (International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management) This major database contains the equivalent of 20 encyclopedia volumes on the distribution, ecology, population dynamics, reproduction, genetics, morphology and physiology of 25,000 finfish species. The database includes 20,000 pictures and 19,000 references. One can search by common names, scientific names, or from a glossary of subject keywords. One can also locate information for general topics and by country. The cd-rom version of the database is available in ref QL 614.7 F57.
    • LarvalBase: Global Information System about FishLarvae (German Ministery for Economic Cooperation and Development) Database containing information on 600 fish larvae. Should be used in conjunction with FishBase. Information provided includes basic taxonomic information, distribution, adult biology, and other topics relating to development and growth of eggs and larvae. The database includes 600 pictures and 700 literature references. One can search by common name, scientific name, or from a glossary of subject keywords. One can also search by general topic.
    • Naturalized Fishes of the World (Lever) 1996 (ref QL 615 L48 1996) Arranged by family and species, describes history, status, and ecological impacts of introduced alien species throughout the world.
    • Pacific Salmon Literature Compilation, 1900-59 (ref micro MC 65) and Salmonid Literature Compilation, 1960-64 (ref micro MC 1262) 2500 scientific publications on salmonids are analyzed and coded according to an outline of subject categories. Individual pages of text from these publications are then reproduced on microfiche and filed according to the subject categories. The Guide to the Literature on Systematic Biology of Pacific Salmon (Docs C 55.13:NMFS-SSRF- 209) lists the 1406 publications in the 1900-59 compilation. The Guide to the Salmonid Literature Compilation, 1960-1964 (ref micro MC 1262) lists the 1086 articles that have been analyzed as well as the subject classification system used. For additional information see the comparison table Salmonid Literature Compilations.
    • U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service
      • Administrative Record: West Coast Steelhead (Documents Collection)
      • Administrative Record: West Coast Coho Salmon (Documents Collection)
      • Administrative Record: West Coast Chinook (Documents Collection)
        These are depository collections of administrative records and scientific research that the federal government has compiled for use in its review for endangered species status and recovery planning. A print index is available to the materials included in each collection. The University of Washington Fisheries and Oceanography Library also maintains Indexes to Administrative Records for Pacific Salmon.

Species Accounts/Life History Information


Species accounts include natural history and life history information on individual species. Topics frequently covered include description, taxonomy, distribution, life history, habitat, status, and management considerations.

  • California, Northeastern Pacific and Western United States
    • Biological Characteristics of Nearshore Fishes of California (Cailliet) 2000-2002. Report and database prepared by the California Department of Fish and Game that includes up to 87 life history parameters for 124 species of California nearshore fishes. An accompanying bibliography lists the 1200 references used to construct the database. This resource includes three major parts that are also available for downloading and installation on a local computer:
      • Final Report includes background information on the project.
      • Excel spreadsheet includes life history information for each species. The spreadsheet contains 32 separate worksheets that are arranged by family or species group. Within each worksheet species are listed alphabetically and the 87 life history parameters are in columns. The literature source for each life history parameter is listed at the bottom of each column.
      • Access Life History Database allows one to query and filter the database using specific life history parameters. This is a downloadable MS Access database.
    • California's Living Marine Resources: a Status Report (Leet, Dewees, Klingbeil, and Larson) 2001 (print copy available in ref SH 222 C1 C35 2001) Examines the current status of the state's commercial and recreational fisheries and provides population and biological information on more than 150 California marine animal and plant species. The status report was mandated under California legislation called the Marine Life Management Act of 1998 and prepared by over 125 scientists under the direction of the California Department of Fish and Game. Introductory chapters cover the marine environment, status of habitats, water quality issues, human ecosystem dimension, and marine law enforcement and regulation. Each 3-4 page species account covers history of the fishery, status of biological knowledge and status of the population. The status of some species is updated by Annual Status of the Fisheries Report through 2003. This is the fourth is a series of reports that address the status of California's marine life. Earlier reports are:
      • California Ocean Fisheries Resources to the Year 1960 (California Department of Fish and Game) 1961 (Cal Docs F 650 O3)
      • California's Living Marine Resources and Their Utilization (California Department of Fish and Game) 1971 (Cal Docs F 650 M347)
      • California's Living Marine Resources and Their Utilization (Leet, Dewees and Haugen) 1992 (SH 222.C3 C34 1992 )
    • California's Plants and Animals Species Account Search (California Department of Fish and Game. Habitat Conservation Planning Branch) Database includes accounts for California or Federal rare, threatened, or endangered species; and California species of special concern. Browse by broad group of organisms, e.g., fish; or search by common or scientific name. Species accounts are excerpted from other sources and frequently include links to additional sources of information.
    • Distribution and Abundance of Fishes and Invertebrates in West Coast Estuaries. Vol. I Data Summaries; Vol. II Species Life History Summaries (Monaco & Emmett) 1990-91 (QL 139 D58 1990) Presents information on the temporal and spatial distribution, relative abundance, and life history characteristics of 47 ecologically and economically important fishes and invertebrates in 32 estuaries along the contiguous west coast of the US. Volume I presents tabular data on species spatial distribution and relative abundance by salinity zone and life stage in each estuary; and species monthly temporal distribution by estuary. This same data is also available in the Estuarine Living Marine Resources ELMR) Database. Volume II contains 3-4 page life history summaries that emphasize occurence and distribution in estuaries. Topics covered include value, range, life mode, habitat, reproduction, growth and development, food and feeding, and biological interactions. Produced as part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Estuarine Living Marine Resources Program.
    • The Early Stages of Fishes of the California Current Region (Moser) 1996 (CALCOFI Atlas #33) (ref QL 628 C2 E27 1996) Extensively illustrated taxonomic guide to the eggs and lavae of 467 fish species in 141 families that are found in the California Current region extending from the tip of Baja California to the northern California border. Morphological tables and illustrations are used as a basis for identification. Each family section includes basic information on the distribution, morphology, ecology and reproduction of adults followed by a section on general characteristics of lavae and eggs. Species descriptions include information and illustrations on meristics, life history, relevant literature, early life history description and morphometrics.
    • Ecological Characterization of the Central and Northern California Coastal Region (Jones & Stokes Associates) 1981 (QH 105 C2 E36 1980 Hum Co Coll) Five volume work in eight parts. Prepared for the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Land Management as a compilation and synthesis of existing information that can be used to evaluate potential ecological consequences of urban, industrial and commercial development in the area. The bibliography is intended to be a guide to additional environmental information. Vol. 2.2: Species - contains one page accounts for 200 plant and animal species that live within the central and northern California coastal region.
    • Ecology of Important Fisheries Species Offshore California (MBC Applied Environmental Sciences) 1987 (Docs I 72.12/2:86-0093) Contains 5-10 page species accounts on the biology and fisheries of 32 California fish and invertebrate species of commercial and recreational value. Prepared for the US Minerals Management Service as background information for decision making regarding offshore oil and gas development.
    • Fish Species of Special Concern in California (Moyle, Williams and Wilramanayake) 1995 (print copies available in ref QL 617.73 C2 M69 1995 and Cal Doc F660 S63) Contains three-page species accounts for 51 California freshwater or anadromous fish that need special protection or management. Accounts include information on description, taxonomy, distribution, habitat requirements, life history, status and range maps.
    • Fishes of the Great Basin: a Natural History (Sigler and Sigler) 1987 (QL 628 G73 S54 1987) The first section includes general chapters on Great Basin drainages, history of fishing, endangered species and a taxonomic key. The second section includes two-four page species accounts that cover importance, range, description, size and longevity, limiting factors, food and feeding, breeding habits, habitat and species preservation.
    • Fishes of Utah: A Natural History (Sigler and Sigler) 1996 (QL 628 U8 S5 1996) The first section includes general chapters on geology, biogeographic considerations and a taxonomic key. The second section includes two-four page species accounts that cover importance, range, description, size and longevity, limiting factors, food and feeding, breeding habits, habitat and management.
    • Inland Fishes of California (Moyle) 2002 (ref QL 628 C2 M68 2002) Authoritative work on the freshwater and anadromous fish of California that provides a taxonomic key, information on the ecology of California's six major drainages and species accounts for 132 fish species, both native and exotic. Each illustrated species account includes information on systematics, distribution, life history, status and management, and bibliographic references.
    • Native Trout of Western North America (Behnke) 1992 (QL 638 S2 B43 1992) Part I includes introductory chapters on trout classification, origin and distribution, and biology and management. Part II-IV contains 10 page species accounts that cover typcial characters, description, distribution, taxonomic notes, life history and ecology, status, and range maps.
  • Other Geographic Regions
    • NatureServe Explorer: an Online Encyclopedia of Life (NatureServe) Database containing conservation information on more than 65,000 plants, animals, and ecological communities of the United States and Canada. Search by common or scientific name. Each species or community includes information on conservation status, distribution, life history, and other conservation information.
    • Endangered Species Recovery Plans (US Fish & Wildlife Service) Includes over 700 final and revised recovery plans issued since 1989. These plans delineate actions required to recover and/or protect listed species. Each recovery plan includes extensive information on the distribution, habitat, ecology, life history, and population status as well as plans for recovery. See also the list of Threatened & Endangered Species with Final Recovery Plans.
    • Fishbase (International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management) (cd-rom version is available in ref QL 614.7 F57) Major database that contains the equivalent of 20 encyclopedia volumes on the distribution, ecology, population dynamics, reproduction, genetics, morphology and physiology of 28,000 finfish species. The database includes 35,000 pictures and 32,000 references. One can search by common name, scientific name, by country, by ecosystem , by broad topic or from a glossary of subject keywords
    • Fisheries of North America: an Illustrated Guide to Commercial Species (Rodger) 2006 (ref SH 219 R57 2006) For the most commercially important fish and shellfish species in North America presents a two-page summary of market and scientific information, including scientific and common nomenclature, physical description, landings and value, commercial uses and life cycle.
    • Fisheries Synopsis This series contains comprehensive reviews of fisheries species of current or potential economic interest. Main headings usually are taxonomy, distribution, life history, population structure, exploitation, use, and management. Coordinated by FAO, they are published by various national governments.
      • FAO Fisheries Synopsis (Food & Agriculture Organization of the UN) (SH 1 F875) Presently 45 species synopsis have been produced which are listed at the FAO Species Identification and Data Programme (SIDP) web site.
      • Fisheries Synopsis (Australia. CSIRO. Division of Fisheries and Oceanography) (QL 614 A8) A list is available of completed synopsis
      • Fisheries Synopsis (U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service), subseries within the Special Scientific Report: Fisheries (Docs C 55.13 NMFS SSRF) and NMFS Technical Report series (Docs C 55.13 NMFS)
    • Handbook of Freshwater Fishery Biology (Carlander) 1969-1997 (ref QL 625 C373) Major three volume set that compiles life history data and information on individual species of freshwater fish in the United States and Canada. Volume 1 includes data on the freshwater fishes of the United States and Canada, exclusive of the Perciformes (perch-like fish, the largest order of fish). Volume 2 treats the first part of the Perciformes, i.e., the Centrarchid fishes, the sunfish family. Volume 3 includes the rest of the Perciformes. For each species includes detailed tabular data for length, weights, weight-length relationships, total lengths, condition factors, daily growth, lengths and weights at various ages, and number of eggs per female. In addition it compiles information from the literature on population density, food, feeding behavior, reproduction, mortality, population distribution and behavior, environmental factors, and more. The text serves as an index to the literature for included species.
    • LarvalBase: Global Information System about FishLarvae (German Ministery for Economic Cooperation and Development) Database containing information on 1800 fish larvae. Should be used in conjunction with FishBase. Information provided includes basic taxonomic information, distribution, adult biology, and other topics relating to development and growth of eggs and larvae. The database includes 2500 pictures and 2000 literature references. One can search by common name, scientific name, or from a glossary of subject keywords. One can also search by general topic.
    • Life History and Harvest Summaries for Selected Invertebrate Species Occurring off the West Coast of North America Vol 1: Shelled Molluscs (Wolotira) 1989 (NOAA Technical Memo NMFS F/NWC-160) (Docs C 55.13/2: NMFS F/NWC-160); and Vol 2: Cephalopods & Crustacea (Wolotira) 1990 (NOAA Technical Memo NMFS F/NWC-183) (Docs C 55.13/2: NMFS F/NWC-183) These two volumes contain five-page species synopsis for 32 marine invertebates. Each account covers geographic range, habitat requirements, human utilization (commercial, recreational, and subsistence) management, migration and movements, population characteristics, growth and development, food and feeding, biological interactions and factors influencing populations.
    • Master Species File (Fish & Wildlife Information Exchange) Contains species profiles created by federal and state fish & wildlife agencies. Arranged by state and then by species.
    • Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (US Geological Survey) Contains species accounts for vertebrate, invertebrate, and plant species that have been introduced into the United States or species native to United States that have been introduced to drainages outside their native ranges. Speices accounts include common name, distribution maps, sources for identification, native range nonindigenous occurences, means of introduction, and status and impacts of introduction. Database can be queried by species, state, and drainage basin. The fish section has been published as Nonindigenous Fishes Introduced into Inland Waters of the United States (Fuller, Nico, & Williams) 1999 (ref QL 627 F86 1999) and contains species accounts for 536 taxa.
    • Pacific Salmon Life Histories (Groot & Margolis) 1991 (ref QL 638 S2 P34 1991) Authoritative 70-100 page life history accounts for the seven species of Pacific salmon.
    • Species Information Library (National Information Services Corporation) (ref QL 352 S67 1995--cd-rom) a cd-rom database which contains species profiles created by state and federal fish & wildlife agencies.
    • Species Profiles: Life Histories and Environmental Requirements of Coastal Fishes & Invertebrates (US Fish & Wildlife Service) (Print copies also available in Docs I 49.89/2:82) A series of 10-20 page species profiles for 126 species compiled during the 1980s which describe the taxonomy, morphology, range, life history, and environmental requirements of coastal aquatic organisms along the coasts of the United States.
    • Species Synopsis: Life Histories of Selected Fish and Shellfish of the Northeast Pacific and Bering Sea (Wilimousky) 1988 (QL 623.4 S64 1988) 15 page species accounts for six species--Northern Pink Shrimp, Pacific Sand Lance, Pacific Herring, Walleye Pollock, Market Squid, and Pacific Halibut.

Taxonomic Works


Two older guides to taxonomic works are the "Pisces" section IN Guide to Taxonomic Literature of Vertebrates (Blackwelder) 1972 (ref QL 607 B53) and Annotated List of Keys and Identification Aids for California Marine Fishes (Fitch) 1966 (ref QL 623.4 F58).

  • Monographs and Keys
    • Catalog of the Species of Fishes (Eschmeyer) 1998 (print copy also available in ref QL 618 C38 1998) First treatment of all described fishes since Linnaeus in 1758; contains 53,500 described species and subspecies of fishes.
    • Classification of Fishes, both Recent and Fossil (Berg) 1947 (QL 618 B4) Classic work on fish taxonomy.
    • The Early Stages of Fishes of the California Current Region (Moser) 1996 (CALCOFI Atlas #33) (ref QL 628 C2 E27 1996) Extensively illustrated taxonomic guide to the eggs and lavae of 467 fish species in 141 families that are found in the California Current region extending from the tip of Baja California to the northern California border. Morphological tables and illustrations are used as a basis for identification. Each family section includes basic information on the distribution, morphology, ecology and reproduction of adults followed by a section on general characteristics of lavae and eggs. Species descriptions include information and illustrations on meristics, life history, relevant literature, early life history description and morphometrics.
    • FAO Species Catalogue (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) (FAO Fisheries Synopsis #125) (print copies also available in SH 1 F875#125) Series of annotated and illustrated catalogs of major groups of marine organisms important in marine fisheries, e.g., gadiform fishes, groupers, sharks. Keys are given to species. Each species entry includes information on nomenclature, diagnostic features, geographical distribution, habitat & biology, size, and interest to fisheries.
    • Fishes of the World (Nelson) 1994 (ref QL 618 N4 1994) Systematic description of fish orders, families and subfamilies. Most accounts include a line drawing, description, distribution, list of genera, and references to relevant taxonomic literature.
    • Fishes of the World; A Key to Families and a Checklist (Lindberg) 1974 (ref QL 618 L5513)
    • Freshwater Fish Distribution (Berra) 2001 (ref QL 624 B47 2001) Includes details on the classification, identification and distribution of 170 families of fish. For each family includes a worldwide distribution map.
    • Freshwater Fishes of the World (Sterba) 1962 (ref QL 624 S713 1966)
    • The Genera of Fishes, and A Classification of Fishes (Jordan) 1963 (QL 618 J73) Reprint of Jordan's two classic works published between 1917 and 1923. The reprint edition includes a comprehensive index.
    • Inland Fishes of California (Moyle) 2002 (ref QL 628 C2 M68 2002) Authoritative work on the freshwater and anadromous fish of California that provides a taxonomic key, information on the ecology of California's six major drainages and species accounts for 132 fish species, both native and exotic. Each illustrated species account includes information on systematics, distribution, life history, status and management, and bibliographic references.
    • Pacific Fishes of Canada (Hart) 1973 (Fisheries Research Board of Canada Bulletin #180) (SH 223 A344 #180)
    • Parasites of North American Freshwater Fishes (Hoffman) 1999 (SH 175 H6 1999)
    • Synopsis and Classification of Living Organisms (Parker) 1982 (ref QH 83 S89)
  • Checklists
    • Annotated Checklists of Fishes (California Academy of Sciences) Ongoing journal that attempts to provide the most up-to-date taxonomic treatment of each family of Recent fishes. Experts in a taxonomic group use information from the Catalog of Fishes database maintained by the academy along with their own records to identify available scientific names that have not yet been assigned as valid names or synonyms. The checklists are available as pdf files and are organized sequentially, phylogenetically and alphabetically.
    • Resource Inventory of Marine and Estuarine Fishes of the West Coast and Alaska: a Checklist of North Pacific and Arctic Ocean Species from Baja California to the Alaska - Yukon Border (Love, Mecklenburg, Mecklenburg and Thornsteinson) 2005 Covers 1,450l fish species ever observed in the marine and estuarine waters from the U. S. - Canadian border in the Beaufort Sea to Cabo San Lucas, Baja California and out perhaps 200 miles. Data included for each species includes common name, maximum size, geographic range,depth range and appropriate references. Browse by family.
    • Checklist of Parasites of California, Oregon, and Washington Marine and Estuarine Fishes (Love and Moser) 1983 (Love) 1983 (Docs C55.13 NMFS SSRF 777) (NOAA Technical Report NMFS SSRF.777) Summary of published records of parasites found in marine and estuarine fishes of California, Oregon and Washington. Includes host-parasite and parasite-host lists.
    • Common and Scientific Names of Fishes from the United States and Canada (American Fisheries Society) 1991 (ref QL 618 A48 1991)
    • Dictionary of Fish Names in Nine Languages (Jonsson) Includes scientific and common names
    • "Native Freshwater Fishes of North America" (Mayden, Burr, Page, & Miller) IN Systematics, Historical Ecology and North American Freshwater Fishes (Mayden) 1992 (QL 625 S87 1992)
    • World Fishes Important to North Americans (American Fisheries Society) 1991 (ref QL 618 W67 1991) Lists standardized common and scientific names of all species not native to North America.
  • Field Guides
    • International Field Guides (Schmidt) Includes annotations for over 5500 field guides covering plants, animals, rocks, minerals, astronomy and weather. Browse by broad taxonomic category or search by keyword.
    • Field Guides (eNature.com) Identification guide to 5,500 plant and animal species in North America derived from 35 Audubon Society field guides. Each species entry includes a large thumbnail image, description, habitat, range and varying additional information depending upon the species, e.g., an audio file. Select from 13 major groups of organisms (e.g., mammals, amphibians, fishes, trees, etc.) Within each group browse by broad types of organisms in the group; search by scientific or common name; or conduct an advanced search by size, color, habitat, region, and other options unique to each each group.
    • Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Fishes, Whales and Dolphin (Boschung, Williams, Gotshell, & Others) 1983 (QL 625 A93 1983.
    • Deep-Water Fishes of California (Fitch & Lavenberg) 1968 (QL 628 C2 F5)
    • Field Guide to Atlantic Coast Fishes of North America (Robins & Ray) 1986 (QL 621.5 R63 1986)
    • Field Guide to Freshwater Fishes, North America North of Mexico (Page & Burn) 1991 (ref QL 627 P34 1991)
    • Field Guide to Pacific Coast Fishes of North America from the Gulf of Alaska to Baja California (Eschmeyer & Herald) 1983 (ref QL 623.4 E83 1983) Identifies over 500 species of fish found along the Pacific Coast. Arranged in systematic order with color and black-and-white illustrations of fish in a separate section.
    • Freshwater Fishes of California (McGinnis) 1984 (QL 628 C2 M37 1984)
    • Guide to the Coastal Marine Fishes of California (Miller & Lea) 1972 (Fish Bulletin #157)(print copy available in Cal Doc F 650 F5 #157) Identification guide to the 554 fish found in California marine waters.
    • Guide to the Fishes of Humboldt Bay (Fritzsche and Cavanagh) Provides a brief description of the fishes that have been recorded from Humboldt Bay and is intended to be an identification guide to those fishes. The fishes are presented in phylogenetic order. Scientific and common names are given for each species along with diagnostic characteristics, life history notes, distribution within the bay, geographic range, approximate maximum size, and color photograph if available.
    • Laboratory Guide to the Early Life History Stages of Northeast Pacific Fishes (Matarese and others) 1989 (Docs C 55.13 NMFS 80) Laboratory guide presents taxonomic information on eggs and larvae of fishes of the northeast Pacific Ocean (north of California) and the eastern Bering Sea.
    • Tidepool and Nearshore Fishes of California (Fitch & Lavenberg) 1975 (QL 628 C2 F55)

Handbooks and Manuals


Handbooks and manuals typically fall into two basic categories--1) works that contain data and descriptive information compiled from the "primary" literature and organized into tables or expository articles that can be used to answer many basic and factual questions; and 2) works that contain procedures for experimental analysis in the field or laboratory. Fisheries Techniques (Murphy & Willis) 1996 (SH 332 F575 1996) is the major resource to techniques used in fisheries.

  • Analysis and Interpretation of Freshwater Fisheries Data (Guy and Brown) 2007 (SH 331.5 S74 A53 2007) Reference for professional fisheries professionals on sample design, analysis, and interpretation of freshwater fisheries data. Chapters are organized by fisheries data types, including recruitment, mortality, biotelemetry, habitat, and predator-prey interactions.
  • Annotated Bibliography of Selected Guides for Stream Habitat Improvement in the Pacific Northwest (Keim et al) 2004 (Oregon State University. College of Forestry. Research Contribution #44) (print copy available in SD 144.A13 R4) Reviews 11 guides to stream habitat improvement so that readers can find literature appropriate to their needs. All reviews begin with summaries of the contents, stated audiences, and goals of each guide. Reviews also include subjective comments on the strengths and weaknesses of each guide.
  • Aquaculture Desk Reference (Creswell) 1993 (SH 135 C74 1993)
  • Aquatic Habitat Assessment: Common Methods (Bain & Stevenson) 1999 (QH 541.5 F7 A59 1999) Sixteen chapters detail step-by-step procedures for inland aquatic habitat assessment - regional setting, basin attributes, waterbody identification, stream reaches, macrohabitat, substrate, cover and refuge, bank condition, riparian vegetation, barriers, stream discharge and volume, water velocity, temperature, lake morphometry, and optical and chemical properties. They represent a synthesis of the most widely used aquatic habitat assessment techniques in North America.
  • Assessing the Sustainability and Biological Integrity of Water Resources using Fish Communities (Simon) 1999 (QH 96.8 B5 A77 1999)
  • Biological Assessment and Criteria: Tools for Water Resource Planning and Decision Making (Davis & Simon) 1995 (QH 96.8 B5 B54 1995)
  • Biological Monitoring of the Environment: A Manual of Methods (Salanki) 1994 (QH 541.15 M64 B565 1994)
  • Biological Monitoring of Fish (Hocutt & Stauffer) 1980 (SH 174 B55)
  • Biological Sampling Manual for Salmonids: A Standard Approach for the Pacific Region (Shaw) 1994 (Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences #1998) (SH 223 A349 #1998)
  • Biological Surveillance of Rivers: A Biological Monitoring Handbook (Hellawell) 1978 (QH 96.8 B5 H44)
  • California Salmonid Stream Habitat Restoration Manual (Flosi) 1998 (1994 edition available in QL 638 S2 F56 1994)
  • Channel Assessment Procedure Field Guidebook (British Columbia Ministry of Forests) 1996
  • Design and Analysis Methods for Fish Survival Experiments Based Upon Release-Recapture (Burnham) 1987 (print copy available in SH 173 D47 1987) Related software is available from Colorado State University.
  • Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (US Environmental Protection Agency) (Docs EP 1.23/5:600/4-90/030 microfiche)
    • EMAP Laboratory Methods Manual - Estuaries Vol. 1 Biological and Physical Analyses (Strobel, Klemm, Lobring, & Others) 1995 (EPA/620/R-95/008) (microfiche copy also available in Docs EP 1.23/5/620/R-95/008)
    • Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program - Surface Waters: Field Operations Manual for Lakes (Baker, Peck, & Sutton) 1997 (EPA/620/R-97/001) (Docs EP 1.23/5:620/R-97/001 microfiche)
    • Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program - Surface Waters: Field Operations and Methods for Measuring the Ecological Condition of Wadeable Streams (Lazorchak, Klemm, & Peck) 1998 (EPA/620/R-94/004F) (Docs EP 1.23/5:620/R-94/004F microfiche)
  • EPA Region 10 In-stream Biological Monitoring Handbook (for wadable streams in the Pacific Northwest) (Hayslip) 1993 (QH 90.57 B5 F63 1993) Presents a minimal set of methods that can be used to conduct biological assessments of wadable streams in EPA Region 10. Supplements Rapid Bioassessment Protocols for Use in Streams and Wadeable River: Periphyton, Benthic Macroinvertebrates, and Fish.
  • Field Manual for the Investigation of Fish Kills (Meyer & Barclay) 1990 (USFWS Resource Publication #177) (Docs I 49.66:177)
  • Field Methods and Statistical Analyses for Monitoring Small Salmonid Streams (Armour, Burnham and Platts) 1983 (Docs I 49.89: 83-33) (US Fish and Wildlife Service OBS-83/33) Contains information pertaining to monitoring programs that can be used to evalute the effects of land use practices on small salmonid streams in the Western United States.
  • Fish Field and Laboratory Methods for Evaluating the Biological Integrity of Surface Waters (Klemm) 1993 (EPA/600/R-92/111) (microfiche copy available in Docs EP 1.23/6:600/R-92/111 microfiche)
  • Fish Hatchery Manual (Piper, McElwain, Orne, McCraren, Fowler, & Leonard) 1982 (Docs I 49.2 H28/3)
  • Fisheries Handbook of Engineering Requirements and Biological Criteria (Bell) 1984 (Docs D 103.6/5: F53/3)
  • Fisheries Techniques (Murphy & Willis) 1996 (SH 332 F575 1996) Published by the American Fisheries Society comprehensive reference volume of modern sampling and data collection methods in fisheries science for students and professionals. Supercedes Fisheries Techniques (Nielson & Johnson) 1983 (SH 332 F55).
  • Freshwater Biomonitoring and Benthic Macroinvertebrates (Rosenberg & Resh) 1993 (QH 96.8 B5 F75 1993)
  • Guide to Effective Monitoring of Aquatic and Riparian Resources (Kershner) 2004 (USFS General Technical Report RMRS-121) (print copy available in Docs A 13.88: RMSR-121) Monitoring plan for aquatic and riparian resources that was developed in response to needs addressed in the Biological Opinions for bull trout, salmon and steelhead. It provides a consistent framework for implementing the effectiveness monitoring of aquatic and riparian resources within the range of the Pacific Anadromous Fish Strategy (PACFISH) and the Inland Fish Strategy (INFISH). Includes sampling protocols for stream channel parameters and vegetation parameters.
  • Guidelines for Sampling Fish in Inland Waters (Welcomme & Backiel) 1980 (EIFAC Technical Paper #33) (SH 1 E87 #33)
  • Handbook for Protection of Fish & Wildlife from Construction of Farm and Forest Roads (Hynson) 1982 (FWS/OBS-82/18) (Docs I 49.89:82/18)
  • Handbook of Common Methods in Limnology (Lind) 1985 (QH 96.57 A1 L55 1985)
  • Handbook of Fish Biology and Fisheries (Hart and Reynolds) 2002 (QH 615 H36 2002) Two volume work provides an overview of fish biology together with the science that supports fisheries management and conservation.
  • Handbook of Limnology (Schwoenbel) 1987 (QH 96 S2913 1987)
  • Handbook of Parametric & Nonparametric Statistical Procedures (Sheskin) 2000 (QA 276.25 S54 2000)
  • Handbook of Sampling and Sample Preservation of Water and Wastewater (US Environmental Protection Agency) 1982 (EPA 600/4-82-029) (Docs EP 1.23/5:600/4-82-029)
  • Identification Sheets for Diseases and Parasites of Fish and Shellfish (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea) (SH 171 F46) See the list of available sheets.
  • Inland Fisheries Management (California Department of Fish & Game) 1966 (Cal Docs F 650 I45) Compilation of information and data on California freshwater fish.
  • Inventory and Monitoring of Wildlife Habitat (US Bureau of Land Management) 1986 (Docs I 53.2: In 8/3)
  • Laboratory Guide to Early Life History Stages of Northeast Pacific Fishes (Matarese) 1989 (NOAA Technical Report NMFS #80) (Docs C55.13:NMFS-80)
  • Limnological Analyses (Wetzel & Likens) 1991 (QH 96.57 A1 W48 1991)
  • Macroinvertebrate Field and Laboratory Methods for Evaluating the Biological Integrity of Surface Waters (Klemm, Lewis, Fulk, & Lazorchak) 1990 (EPA-600-4-90-030) (Docs EP 1.23/5:600/4-90/030 microfiche)
  • Management and Techniques for Riparian Restorations: Roads Field Guide (Roads/Riparian Restoration Team) 2002 (USFS General Technical Report RMRS-102) (print copy available in Docs A 13.88: RMRS-102) Two-volume field guide presents in a practical, user friendly format evaluation and monitoring strategies that can be used in riparian restoration near roads. The field guide covers riparian area considerations, monitoring, planning projects, laws and regulations, and field techniques.
  • Management of Wildlife and Fish Habitats on Forests of Western Oregon and Washington (US Forest Service) (Docs A 13.2 W6417)
  • Manual of Fisheries Science Part 1: An Introduction to Fisheries Science; Part 2: Methods of Resource Investigation and their Application (Food & Agriculture Organization) 1973-74 (FAO Fisheries Technical Paper #115, #118) (SH 1 F203 #115 #118)
  • Manual of Methods in Aquatic Environmental Research. Parts 1-5 (Food & Agriculture Organization) (FAO Fisheries Technical Papers #137, #150, #158, #164, #182) (SH 1 F203)
  • Manual of Stream Channelization Impacts on Fish and Wildlife (Simpson) 1982 (FWS/OBS-82/24) (Docs I 49.89:82/24)
  • Manual on Methods for Measuring Primary Production in Aquatic Environments (Vollenweider) 1974 (QH 96 V56 1974)
  • Manual on Methods for the Assessment of Secondary Productivity in Fresh Waters (Edmondson) 1984 (QH 541.3 M35 1984)
  • Materials and Methods used in Marking Experiments in Fishery Research (Jones) 1979 (FAO Fisheries Technical Paper #190) (SH 1 F203 #190)
  • Methods and Measurements of Periphyton Communities: A Review (Weitzel) 1979 (QK 570.25 M47)
  • Methods for Assessment of Fish Production in Freshwaters (Bagenal) 1978 (QL 615 M44 1978)
  • Methods for Evaluating Riparian Habitats with Application to Management (Platts) 1987 (USFS General Technical Report INT-221) (Docs A 13.88:INT-221)
  • Methods for Evaluating Stream, Riparian, and Biotic Conditions (Platts) 1982 (USFS General Technical Report INT-138) (Docs A 13.88:INT-138)
  • Methods for Fish Biology (Schreck & Moyle) 1990 (QL 618.5 M47 1990)
  • Methods for Measuring the Acute Toxicity of Effluents and Receiving Waters to Freshwater & Marine Organisms (US Environmental Protection Agency) 1991 (Docs EP 1.23/5:600/4-90-027)
  • Methods for Measuring the Acute Toxicity of Effluents to Freshwater and Marine Organisms (Peltier & Weber) 1985 (EPA 600/4-85-013) (Docs EP 1.23/5:600/4-85-013)
  • Methods for Measuring the Acute Toxicity of Effluents and Receiving Waters to Freshwater and Marine Organisms (Weber) 1991 (EPA 600-4-90-027) (microfiche copy also available in Docs EP 1.23/5:600/4-90/027 microfiche) Describes acute toxicity tests for use in the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination (NPDES) Permits Program. Contains specified test conditions for 10 commonly used freshwater and marine organisms.
  • Methods for the Microbiological Examination of Fish and Shellfish (Austin) 1989 (QR 118 M48 1989)
  • Methods for Sampling and Analyzing Contaminants in Fish and Shellfish Tissue (US Environmental Protection Agency Office of Water)
  • Methods in Stream Ecology (Haver & Lamberti) 1996 (QH 541.5 S7 M47 1996)
  • Methods of Hydrobiology (Freshwater Biology) (Schwoerbel) 1970 (QH 96 S313 1970)
  • Methods to Estimate Aquatic Habitat Variables (Hamilton & Bergersen) 1984 (Docs I 27.19/2:Ag3/2) Describes methods for measuring physico-chemical features of the aquatic habitat required by Habitat Suitability Indexes.
  • Monitoring Guidelines to Evaluate Effects of Forestry Activities on Streams in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska (MacDonald, Smart and Wismarr) 1991 (EPA 910/9-91-001)
  • Monitoring Vertebrate Populations (Thompson, White, & Gowan) 1998 (QL 607.6 T48 1998)
  • National Wild Fish Health Survey Laboratory Procedures Manual (True) 2004 Describes the procedures and protocols used in the USFWS National Wild Fish Health Survey. It is intended for use by USFWS Fish Health Centers, but may also be helpful to fishery professionals, the technically oriented fishery industry, and students of biological or fishery sciences.
  • National Enviromental Methods Index (US Environmental Protection Agency) Database of analytical, test, and sampling methods for environmental monitoring that are used by federal agencies. Search by analyte, instrument, source, medium and other parameters.
  • National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Method and Guideline Protocols (US Geological Survey) Includes the following compilations:
    • Field Guide for Collecting and Processing Stream-Water Samples for the National Water-Quality Assessment Program (USGS Open-File Report 94-455) (print copy also available in Docs I 19.76:94-455)
    • Methods for Collecting Algal Samples as Part of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program (USGS Open-File Report 93-409)
    • Methods for Collecting Benthic Invertebrate Samples as Part of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program (USGS Open-File Report 93-406)
    • Methods for Sampling Fish Communities as a Part of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program (USGS Open-File Report 93-104) (print copy also available in Docs I 19.76:93-104)
    • Revised Methods for Characterizing Stream Habitat in the National Water-Quality Assessment Program (Water Resources Investigations Report 98-4052)
  • Oregon Road/Stream Crossing Restoration Guide (Robison, Mirati, & Allen) 1999
  • Quantifying Physical Habitat in Wadeable Streams (Kaufmann) 1999 (EPA/620/R99/03) (microfiche copy available in Docs EP 1.23/6:620/R-99/003) Describes concepts, rationale, and analytical procedures for characterizing physical habitat in wadeable streams.
  • R1/R4 (Northern/Intermountain Regions) Fish and Fish Habitat Standard Inventory Procedures Handbook (Overton, Wollrab, Roberts, & Radko) 1997 (USFS General Technical Report INT-346) (Docs A 13.88 INT-346)
  • Rapid Bioassessment Protocols for Use in Streams and Wadeable River: Periphyton, Benthic Macroinvertebrates, and Fish (Barbour, Gerritsen, Snyder, & Stribling) 1999 (EPA 841-B-99-002) (microfiche copy also available in Docs EP 2.2:B52/5 microfiche)
  • The Rivers Handbook: Hydrological and Ecological Principles (Calow & Petts) 1992-94 (GB 1203.2 R58) Provides information on how to successfully plan and and implement a soil bioengineering project, including the application of soil bioengineering techniques.
  • Soil Bioengineering Guide for Streambank and Lakeshore Stabilization (Eubanks) 2002 (print copy available in Docs A 13.36/2:SO3
  • Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater (American Public Health Association) (QD 142 A51)
  • Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater: Including Bottom Sediments and Sludges (American Public Heath Association) 1995 (QD 142 A5)
  • Standard Techniques for Pelagic Fish Egg and Larva Surveys (Smith & Richardson) 1977 (FAO Fisheries Technical Paper #175) (SH 1 F203 #175)
  • Stream Channel Reference Sites: An Illustrated Guide to Field Technique (Harrelson, Rawlins, and Potyondy) 1994 (USFS General Technical Report RM-245) (print copy available in Docs A 13.88: RM-245) Describes procedures for establishing permanent channel reference sites including selecting and mapping a site, measuring channel cross-sections, surveying a longitudinal profile, identifying bankfull stage, and measuring streamflow and bed material.
  • Stream Corridor Restoration: Principles, Processes, and Practices (Federal Interagency Stream Corridor Restoration Working Group) (print copy also available in Docs A 57.6/2:EN 3/PT.653)
  • Stream Temperature Investigation: Field and Analytical Methods (Bartholow) 1989 (Instream Flow Information Paper #13) (Docs I 49.89/2:89(17))
  • Surveys of Fisheries Resources (Gunderson) 1993 (SH 327.5 G86 1993)
  • Techniques for Conducting a Stream Habitat Survey on National Resource Lands (Duff) 1976 (Docs I 53.20: 283) (US Bureau of Land Management Technical Note 283)
  • Techniques of Water Resources Investigations (US Geological Survey) (Docs I 19.15/5) Series of manuals describing procedures for planning and conducting water-resources investigations. See Publications on Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations for a list of available manuals. Sections of particular interest to fisheries include:
  • Volunteer Stream Monitoring: A Methods Manual (US Environmental Protection Agency)
  • Western Reservoir and Stream Habitat Improvements Handbook (US Fish & Wildlife Service) 1987 (FWS/OBS 78/56) (Docs I 49.6/2:W52)
  • Wildlife and Fisheries Habitat Improvement Handbook (Payne & Copes) 1988 (Docs A 13.36/2:W64/6)

Laws and Regulations

Environmental Reviews, Assessments, & Plans


Environmental reviews contain analysis of environmental issues and frequently contain statistical data. For more encompassing reviews see the Environmental Reviews listed in the HSU Library Environmental Science research guide. Reviews, assessments, and plans specific to fisheries include:

  • United States
    • America's Living Oceans: Charting a Course for Sea Change (Pew Oceans Commission) 2003 (cd-rom containing all the documents is available in GC 1020 P48 2003) Contains a final report on the State of America's Oceans; recommendations for implementation; and supporting reports on Managing Marine Fisheries in the United States, A Dialogue on America’s Fisheries, Socioeconomic Perspectives on Marine Fisheries in the United States, Marine Reserves: A Tool for Ecosystem Management and Conservation, Ecological Effects of Fishing, Coastal Sprawl, Marine Pollution, Marine Aquaculture and Introduced Species.
    • Aquaculture Outlook (US Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service)
    • Audubon Wildlife Report (National Audubon Society) 1985-1989 (ref QL 84.2 A9)
    • California's Living Marine Resources: a Status Report (Leet, Dewees, Klingbeil, and Larson) 2001 (print copy available in ref SH 222 C1 C35 2001) Examines the current status of the state's commercial and recreational fisheries and provides population and biological information on more than 150 California marine animal and plant species. The status report was mandated under California legislation called the Marine Life Management Act of 1998 and prepared by over 125 scientists under the direction of the California Department of Fish and Game. Introductory chapters cover the marine environment, status of habitats, water quality issues, human ecosystem dimension, and marine law enforcement and regulation. Each 3-4 page species account covers history of the fishery, status of biological knowledge and status of the population. The status of some species is updated by Annual Status of the Fisheries Report through 2003.This is the fourth is a series of reports that address the status of California's marine life. Earlier reports are:
      • California Ocean Fisheries Resources to the Year 1960 (California Department of Fish and Game) 1961 (Cal Docs F 650 O3)
      • California's Living Marine Resources and Their Utilization (California Department of Fish and Game) 1971 (Cal Docs F 650 M347)
      • California's Living Marine Resources and Their Utilization (Leet, Dewees and Haugen) 1992 (SH 222.C3 C34 1992 )
    • Endangered Species Recovery Plans (US Fish & Wildlife Service) Contains the fulltext in pdf format of over 700 final and revised recovery plans issued since 1989. See also the list of Threatened and Endangered Species with Final Recovery Plans.
    • Fish and Other Aquatic Resource Trends in the United States: A Technical Document Supporting the 2000 USDA Forest Service RPA Assessment (Loftus and Flater) 2000 (USFS General Technical Report RMRS-53) ) (print copy available in Docs A 13.88: RMRS-53) Reports on the general trends in fisheries and aquatic resources for the nation as required by the Renewable Resources Planning Act (RPA)of 1974, including water quality, specific fish populations, resource utilization, and imperiled aquatic fauna.
    • In a Perfect Ocean: the State of Fisheries and Ecosystems in the North Atlantic Ocean (Maclean) 2003 (SH 213.2 P38 2003)
    • Marine Stocks at Risk of Extinction (American Fisheries Society) Lists 82 species or populations of marine fish stocks and species at risk of extinction in North American waters.
    • Our Living Oceans: Report on the Status of U.S. Living Marine Resources (US National Marine Fisheries Service) 1991- (Print copy also available in Docs C55.13/2:NMFS-F/SPO #1 and later) Triennial report giving national and regional overviews on the status of fishery resources, marine mammals, and sea turtles.
    • Pacific Northwest Conservation Assessment (Conservation Biology Institute) Provides a conservation assessment for each of the 40 ecoregions in the greater Pacific Northwest and contains links to important geographic data sources to facilitate regional conservation planning.
    • Review of ... Ocean Salmon Fisheries (Pacific Fisheries Management Council) Annual (SH 348 R4) A Data Synopsis is available that is extracted from the main report.
    • State of the Coast (US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Series of essays on the health of the coastal areas of the United States.
    • Status of Fishery Resources off the Northeastern United States (US National Marine Fisheries Service) Annual (Docs C55.13/2:NMFS-F/NEC #95 and following)
    • Status of Living Marine Resources off Alaska (US National Marine Fisheries Service) Annual (Docs C55.13/2:NMFS-F/NWC #211)
    • Status of Living Marine Resources off the Pacific Coast of the United States (US National Marine Fisheries Service) Annual (Docs C 55.13/2:NMFS-SWFC #165)
    • Status of the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery through ... And Recommended acceptable Biological Catches (Pacific Fisheries Management Council) Annual (SH 348 P3)
    • Status and Trends of the Nation's Biological Resources 1998 (US Geological Survey Biological Resources Division) (print copy available in Docs I 19.202 ST1 and cd-rom in Docs I 19:120:ST1 CD) Large-scale assessment of the health of plants, animals, and ecosystems in the United States. In the two-volume set Part 1 describes the major factors affecting biodiversity and biological resource health, e.g., land use, climate change, nonindigenous species; and Part 2 explores the condition and status of regional biological resource, e.g., Pacific Northwest. Updates Our Living Resources: A Report to the Nation on the Distribution, Abundance, and Health of U.S. Plants, Animals and Ecosystems 1995 (US National Biological Service) (print copy available in Docs I 49.2 R31/15)
  • World

Geospatial Resources: Atlases, Maps, GIS, Imagery, Telemetry


See also Geospatial Resources (HSU Library) for a categorized list of print and digital geospatial resources available in the HSU Library or on the Internet. Some geospatial resources of special interest to fisheries include:

Software

Images and Sounds


One can use a combination of general and specialized Internet search engines to find images on the web. See Images for a list of specialized search engines. However, search engines fail to index the content of the "invisible web", especially information contained within databases. The following sources are either specialized databases or sites devoted to images or sounds in fisheries.

  • American Field Guide (Oregon Public Broadcasting and PBS) Includes over 1400 videos on the American environment produced by 30 PBS stations. Search by keyword or browse by one of the broad categories--animals, ecosystems, human history, livelihoods, earth and space, plants, public policy and recreation.
  • Fish Pics Database (UC Santa Barbara. Marine Science Institute) Contains photos of Pacific Coast fishes from Alaska to Baja California.
  • FishBase. Included within the database are over 20,000 photos and sketches of fish.
  • Freshwater and Marine Image Bank (University of Washington Libraries) 18th and 19th century digital collection of images related to freshwater and marine topics.
  • National Image Library (US Fish & Wildlife Service) Contains copyright free pictures of fish and wildlife, environmental scenes, and conservation issues.
  • Pictures/Images (US Fish & Wildlife Service) Contains links to pictures and images of fish and wildlife.

Statistical & Data Compilations


The following sources are useful guides to locating statistics:

  • LexisNexis Statistical (formerly Statistical Universe) (HSU Users only) (print American Statistics Index 1974-2000 available at Documents Index Table) Detailed index to statistical data published by federal agencies. Online version includes selective fulltext of the statistical tables.
  • Guide to Sources for Fisheries Statistics (University of Washington Fisheries-Oceanography Library) Guide to print resources in the University of Washington Fisheries and Oceanography library and to Internet resources that include statistics at international, United States, regional and state/provincal levels.

Some print data compilations available in the HSU Library and on the Internet include:

  • California
    • CalCOFI: Recent Data and Data Archive Links (California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations) Includes cruise data from 1949 to the present. Print copies of "Ichthyoplankton and Station Data for California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations Survey Cruises" start in 1951 and are published as NOAA Technical Memorandum (Docs C 55.13/2:NMFS-SWISC #79 and following).
    • California Commercial Landings (US National Marine Fisheries Service Southwest Regional Office) Annual compilation of preliminary freshwater and marine commerical landings that are extracted from the PacFIN Database.
    • Commercial Fish Catch for California for [year], Marine Fish Catch for California for [year], California Marine Fish Catch for [year] and California Marine Fish Landings for [year] (California Department of Fish & Game) 1929-1990 (print copy available in Cal Docs F 650 F5) Series of statistical reports covering the years 1916-1986 that are published as part of the Fish Bulletin series and that contain annual statistics on landings, catches, value and number of vessels and fishermen. Some tables are by species and region. See Fish Bulletin's Fish Catch Statistics for a complete list of tables that have appeared in the series and the specific Fish Bulletin reference for each table. The 1968 report includes historical tables covering 1916-1968. Updated by the monthly publication California Commercial Fish Landings by Region (Preliminary) (Cal Docs F 650 F5L) 1971 through 1994.
    • Final Bulletin Tables, California Commerical Landings for [year], and Final Commercial Fish Landing Tables for [year] (California Department of Fish and Game) 1991 to the present (print copies available in Cal Docs F 650 F5L) Annual compilation that continues the series that began in the Fish Bulletin.
    • Fishery-Independent Research (Calfiornia Department of Fish and Game) Contains information gathered through scuba and remotely operated vehicle surveys, independent of fishery landings data. It provides a more complete picture of the changing status of fish and invertebrate stocks that can be used for management of nearshore resources.
    • Historical Perspective of the Commercial and Sport Fisheries Offshore California Through 1985 (MBC Applied Environmental Sciences) 1989 (OCS Study MMS 89-0073) (Docs I 72.12/2:89-0073) Includes a brief introduction with an historical overview of California fisheries; seven regional summaries that highlight their faclities and important marine and sport fisheries; and charts and tables containing statistical data for catch volume and value for the period 1970-1985.
  • Pacific Northwest
    • Adult Fish Counts and Annual Fish Passage Report. Columbia & Snake Rivers for Salmon, Steelhead, & Shad (US Army Corps of Engineers) (Docs D 103.27) Daily and annual fish counts at 12 dam sites.
    • Fish Data (Streamnet) Containing 100,000 data items for the Pacific Northwest, this online query system allows one to generate a custom report based upon any combination of fish species, geographic areas, and data categories.
    • International North Pacific Fisheries Commission (Formed in 1952 and replaced in 1993 with the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission)
      • Statistical Yearbook Annual (SH 219.5.I5 A28) HSU Library has 1952-1963
      • Historical catch statistics for salmon of the North Pacific Ocean. 1979 (SH219.5.I5 A26 no.39)
    • North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission. Statistical Yearbook Contains data of salmon catch, hatchery release, and other marine species catch in the North Pacific Ocean.
    • Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission
    • Washington. Department of Fisheries.
      • Fisheries Statistical Report
      • Washington State Sport Catch Report
  • United States
    • Aquaculture Outlook (US Department of Agriculture. Economic Research Service) Annual report that provides statistics on production, inventory, sales, prices, inputs, and trade of catfish, trout, tilapia, salmon, mollusks, crawfish, shrimp, ornamental fish, and new species.
    • Fishing Statistics (American Sportfishing Association) Includes industry data, angler data, and special reports.
    • National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation (US Fish & Wildlife Service) (print copy available in Docs I 49.98/2) Survey conducted every five years that measures fishing and hunting activities, as well as wildlife watching activities.
    • U.S. Geological Survey
      • NWISWeb Data for the Nation Database containing site-specific real time and historical surface water, ground water, and water quality records for the United States. The USGS Daily Value (ref GB 991 W2 V27) cd-rom has records for the western United States
      • Water Resources Data Annual compilation of discharge, level, and water quality records for streams and wells. Arranged by state and drainage basin. Data compilations prior to 1961 are included in the US Geological Survey Water Supply Paper series. Su