Fish & Fish Habitat Data Standards & Guidelines
Good survey information becomes increasingly valuable as time passes and conditions change. Data standards provide consistency for assessment, planning and management.
RISC Standards
The Resources Information Standards Committee (RISC) is responsible for establishing standards for resource inventories, including collection, storage, analysis, interpretation and reporting of inventory data.
Fish and Fish Habitat Inventory Standards
Fish and fish habitat inventories provide information about fish distribution, and the condition and capability of supporting habitats. Fish and Fish Habitat inventories require a number of standards to ensure that information collected meets a desired level of quality.
The following forms are RISC Standards that can used for a number of data collection purposes:
Fish Collection
- Fish Collection Form - front (PDF)
- Fish Collection Form - back (PDF)
- Individual Fish Form - front (PDF)
- Individual Fish Form - back (PDF)
- Fish Collection Form Field Guide (PDF)
Lake Survey
- Lake Survey Form - front (PDF, 2.02MB)
- Lake Survey Form - back (PDF, 1.8MB)
- Lake Survey Form Field Guide (PDF)
Site Card
- Originally written for full watershed inventory surveys Chapters 3.2.12 (lakes) and 4.2.12 (streams) of the Reconnaissance (1:20 000) Fish and Fish Habitat Inventory Standards and Procedures are the provincial best practices for fish sampling.
- Field Key to the Freshwater Fishes of British Columbia (PDF, 9.9MB)
- For descriptions on fish sampling techniques: Fish Collection Methods and Standards Version 4.0 (PDF); Fish Collection Methods and Standards Version 4.0 Errata #1 (PDF)
- For guidance on identifying fish bearing streams Fish Stream Identification Guidebook (PDF)
Use the Fish Data Submission Process for submitting provincially permitted and non-permitted fish and fish habitat data
Waterbody & Location Information Standards
Resource Information Standards Committee (RISC) Standards
- Originally written for full watershed inventory surveys Chapters 2.3.4, 2.4.3, 2,4,4 (streams); 2.4.5 (lakes) of the Reconnaissance (1:20 000) Fish and Fish Habitat Inventory Standards and Procedures are the provincial best practices for waterbody information for fish and fish habitat surveys
- User's Guide to the BC Watershed/Waterbody Identifier System (PDF)
- British Columbia Standards Specifications and Guidelines for Resource Surveys Using Global Positioning System Technology (PDF)
Data Submission Standards
- Data Requirements (locational information)
Technical Notes
Resource Information Standards Committee (RISC) Standards
- Bathymetric Standards for Lake Inventories (PDF, 1.4MB)
- Lake Survey Form - front (PDF, 2.02MB)
- Lake Survey Form - back (PDF, 1.8MB)
- Lake Survey Form Field Guide (PDF)
- Site Card - front (PDF)
- Site Card - back (PDF)
- Site Card Field Guide (PDF)
- Although originally written for full watershed inventory surveys Chapters 3 (lakes) and 4 (streams) of the Reconnaissance (1:20 000) Fish and Fish Habitat Inventory Standards and Procedures are the provincial best practices for fish habitat inventory sampling
Best Practices
- Channel Assessment Procedures Guidebook
- Riparian Management Area Guidebook
- For guidance on identifying fish bearing streams Fish Stream Identification Guidebook (PDF)
Technical Notes
