Keeping Track of Science: A Tool to Help You Document and Discuss Monitoring Protocols

Fisheries and aquatic habitat monitoring and restoration practitioners, researchers, and resource managers are increasingly aware of the importance of documenting and tracking objectives, methods, and study designs used for monitoring fish populations and other aquatic resources. While uncertainty is an integral part of dealing with biological systems, it is crucial that researchers and monitoring practitioners use methods that minimize uncertainty in order to improve the conservation and sustainability of fisheries and aquatic resources. In addition, there has been rising demand in recent years for organizations to collaborate on monitoring activities and data sharing. Recent Biological Opinions have stated that consistent data collection and analysis methods are essential to enable aggregating and summarizing data across large and diverse geographies and across time. This is in turn critical for understanding the status of various populations and whether restoration and mitigation actions are accomplishing the desired effects. 

To advance scientific rigor and realize improved cooperation, it is essential to have clear documentation of and ready access to the field’s protocols and methods.  Monitoring Methods (www.monitoringmethods.org) is an on-line tool that allows practitioners to document protocols and methods as well as share their experiences with and insights about those protocols and methods.  This product was a collaborative effort between the Pacific Northwest Aquatic Monitoring Partnership and State of the Salmon.  Software was developed by Sitka Technology Group. By providing a place where practitioners can be transparent about their techniques, we can better understand how and why data are collected. This, in turn, can increase our ability to share data, make it possible for managers, funders, and others to identify and make use of best practices, elevate scientific discourse, and promote the adoption of standards in the monitoring and evaluation of fish populations and aquatic habitats.