Mersey Estuary Fisheries Surveys
For the past seven years APEM has undertaken quarterly fish surveys in the upper Mersey Estuary to evaluate the potential impact of a major new bridge crossing. Upper estuaries are notoriously difficult to survey due to the rapid tidal changes typical of these environments. A range of survey techniques were deployed to cover the full range of species that would be encountered at high and low water. We carried out beam trawl surveys using high powered survey vessels necessary to work in line with the tide. Seine net and hand trawl surveys were also undertaken to provide data on a variety of species, including juveniles. Our work established the Mersey Estuary as a nursery area for the comparatively recently developed Isle of Man bass population.
