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The last time we recorded them so early in the season was 2007. Warm weather and coinciding with spring tides has probably helped bring them in so early.
I’m looking forward to getting all our citizen science traps set up in the coming days ready for what promises to be a busy season.
I know many of you are old hands at this but good to meet up anyway, and welcome the new Eel team members, plus of course need to get the Health and Safety stuff signed for the new season.
James Mitchell
Posts : 738 Join date : 2011-11-14 Location : Kingston
had a nice ride to hampton court, on me re-conditioned saddle, god, was it hard, cured me pills
here are some pics, water still going though, but a bit slow, water levels were down a bit, there was around 1" (ish) on sand in bottum of bin, nothing in it, no eel/crabs, when is the bucket and lid going on
Ed Randall
Posts : 3326 Join date : 2010-11-19 Age : 58 Location : Twickenham
Crazy C, thanks for checking it today, I may pop down over the weekend as well, will let you know
Ed Randall
Posts : 3326 Join date : 2010-11-19 Age : 58 Location : Twickenham
Subject: Re: Eel Trap Results 2014 Wed Apr 30, 2014 8:23 am
Darryl checked the trap this morning, only 2 mitten crabs, no eels.
David Harvey
Posts : 5381 Join date : 2010-01-21 Age : 109 Location : Surrey,
Subject: Eel Trap results 2014 Thu May 08, 2014 9:27 pm
Last weekend the 'Eel Team' went through the annual session with Joe Pecorelli of the ZSL and are ready to go.
In attendance and checking it this season are Neil Depledge, Glyn Jones, Colin Arbon , Paul Douglas (for the first time at Molesey), Patrick Barker and myself. In addition Ed R and Keith Crab have signed health and safety docs as could not attend, so as they have 2 years experience are also on the list. (Keith is fine and well BTW, talking to him over the weekend).
If anyone else is interested in getting involved, please let me know
All results will be posted on here along with pics, video etc, should be good. Last years results are HERE, the numbers were 20 times the previous year, what will 2014 bring
A small reminder of one of the biggest days we had..
For the checking team, here is the guidelines Joe mentioned, for the recording part I will add them to the database from whats posted on here.
• From the end of April to end of September the trap needs to be checked twice a week or frequently enough to ensure the welfare of any trapped eels. Often traps will be empty so only a look into the trap with a torch is needed. On other occasions the trap will have elvers that can be netted out and measured. Handling eels can be tricky, the easiest way to measure them is to briefly put them in a clear plastic bag, to restrain their wriggling, and hold them to a measuring board. Once measured the eel should be released up stream of the trap.
• Eels of over 300mm in length do not need to be measured and can be recorded on the ZSL database at >300mm.
• At each trap the site coordinator will organise a rota for checking the trap to ensure consistency.
• Each site coordinator must ensure that volunteers are following the monitoring protocol that has been developed by assessing the risks for each site.
• In the event that more than 50 eels are present in the trap a randomly selected sub-sample of 20% of the catch can be measured, up to a total of 50 eels measured. I.e if more than 250 eels are caught cap the numbers measured at 50.
• Zero eels is a result, so please also record a 0
• At the end of the season we standardize the data across all sites by calculating the Catch per Unit Effort (CPUE). This is essentially the number of eels caught each day of trapping. To allow us to do this please record on the ZSL database if the trap isn’t working when you go to check it.
• Serious faults with the traps, that can’t be fixed by the trap monitors, should be reported to ZSL staff by telephone rather than on the database. (So through here so we can follow up)
They have been checked this week, and only Mittens but they are coming. I am happy to pop down Saturday but not early.
30/04/2014 - 0 03/05/2014 - 0 07/05/2014 - 0
Neil Depledge
Posts : 721 Join date : 2010-01-21 Age : 71 Location : Ashford, Middx
Subject: Re: Eel Trap Results 2014 Fri May 09, 2014 9:18 am
I'm away for the next few days but will start regular visits later next week Dave.
patrick barker
Posts : 596 Join date : 2013-05-28
Subject: Re: Eel Trap Results 2014 Sat May 10, 2014 8:28 am
hey dave. have we replaced the bucket and net. i am usually available saturday or sunday earlyish or i could do in the week after 4 in the afternoon. are we checking twice a week?
David Harvey
Posts : 5381 Join date : 2010-01-21 Age : 109 Location : Surrey,
Subject: Re: Eel Trap Results 2014 Sat May 10, 2014 11:32 am
Cheers Patrick.
What we will do is kick off the Saturday 11am check, can meet up and see what's what.
Midweek will become relevant once they start to move, so no real need at present but if your passing, it's worth a check.
Last year when there were big numbers coming through it was almost daily, and especially if we get hot weather as the Eels will suffer in the trap.
I am popping down shortly, next Saturday can't do as on the Crane.
David Harvey
Posts : 5381 Join date : 2010-01-21 Age : 109 Location : Surrey,
Subject: Re: Eel Trap Results 2014 Sat May 10, 2014 1:45 pm
Nil today, did though get the residue sand and gravel out of the bottom of the trap.
No need to check midweek as Darryl from the EA is down there, so next Saturday chaps.
Keith Collett
Posts : 2557 Join date : 2010-12-15 Age : 63 Location : ADDLESTONE
Subject: Re: Eel Trap Results 2014 Wed May 14, 2014 8:04 am
will pop down today, around 1600hrs
Neil Depledge
Posts : 721 Join date : 2010-01-21 Age : 71 Location : Ashford, Middx
Subject: Re: Eel Trap Results 2014 Wed May 14, 2014 8:45 am
Good to hear you're still on board Keith.
Dave, have you sorted out a new net?
David Harvey
Posts : 5381 Join date : 2010-01-21 Age : 109 Location : Surrey,
Subject: Re: Eel Trap Results 2014 Wed May 14, 2014 10:32 am
Nice one Keith, good to chat on the weekend.
Neil the net and bucket are back and in the lock keepers office
patrick barker
Posts : 596 Join date : 2013-05-28
Subject: Re: Eel Trap Results 2014 Wed May 14, 2014 5:17 pm
big moon yesterday so some high tides this week. i can go down there on saturday morning if thats any good?
David Harvey
Posts : 5381 Join date : 2010-01-21 Age : 109 Location : Surrey,
Subject: Re: Eel Trap Results 2014 Wed May 14, 2014 6:13 pm
Saturday would be superb, going to make it a regular 11am check again this year. I cant get along Saturday as on the river Crane doing the Riverfly stuff, but def the following one
Adrian Hoare
Posts : 1438 Join date : 2010-01-21 Age : 46 Location : sunbury on thames
Subject: Re: Eel Trap Results 2014 Wed May 14, 2014 6:18 pm
Keith its good to see you are back mate nice one !
Keith Collett
Posts : 2557 Join date : 2010-12-15 Age : 63 Location : ADDLESTONE
Subject: Re: Eel Trap Results 2014 Wed May 14, 2014 6:28 pm
high Alll, not back, just doing my bit for fishing
eel cheak, after working out how to get locks off, found 1 crab, plus the tow path at worton bridge is just open by 15mins before this pic was taken at 1645hrs, might go down there and christen the fishing platform Satuday with a bit off fly fishing,
ps
a small net is needed,
David Harvey
Posts : 5381 Join date : 2010-01-21 Age : 109 Location : Surrey,
Subject: Re: Eel Trap Results 2014 Wed May 14, 2014 6:49 pm
Thanks Keith
There was an net in place last Saturday?, strange. Was there 2 buckets, one yellow, one white?
I will need to go and pick a net up this week from pet shop or something, and drop it down there.
patrick barker
Posts : 596 Join date : 2013-05-28
Subject: Re: Eel Trap Results 2014 Thu May 15, 2014 5:40 pm
ok dave will do this sat prob. about 10 o clock but ive forgotten the padlock codes can you pm to me
Glyn Jones
Posts : 187 Join date : 2010-11-21
Subject: Re: Eel Trap Results 2014 Thu May 15, 2014 6:51 pm
I will be fishing Saturday so I cannot make it.
David Harvey
Posts : 5381 Join date : 2010-01-21 Age : 109 Location : Surrey,
Subject: Re: Eel Trap Results 2014 Thu May 15, 2014 11:15 pm
Update from Joe P:
Hi Folks
The migration season is well underway now with most sites low in the catchment regularly sending in reasonable catch numbers. We are yet to get going at sites further up-stream but, with big tides coming this weekend, they should start any day now.
I’m sure you’ve felt the excitement brewing now for a while but May 24th is World Fish Migration Day (http://www.worldfishmigrationday.com/home#.U3EUSfldVXs ). ZSL is planning various events to mark the day including an eel totalizer (surely the first ever in the world!) in the aquarium. The plan is that visitors to the aquarium can see, in as near real-time as possible, how many elvers are being monitored throughout the day.
We really need your help with this though and would like to know if you are able to organise for your site to be checked on the day. If you are able to check your trap on the 24th would you also be able to text Jo Barker the numbers of eels caught please?