ASTM D4211-21

Standard Guide for Fish Sampling

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 Fish sampling includes a number of lethal and non-lethal practices.  
4.2 This guide provides an overview of commonly used fish sampling practices.  
4.3 This summary serves as a brief accounting of options available to personnel responsible for determining the fish sampling practice or practices that best serve the sampling objectives.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers the use of lethal and non-lethal collection practices for fish.  
1.1.1 Lethal practices include the use of rotenone and antimycin which are used to collect or eradicate fish; numerous chemicals have been used but presently only rotenone and antimycin are U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved for this use.  
1.2 Non-lethal collection practices typically do not cause mortality to fish.  
1.2.1 Non-lethal practices include surface or bank observation, underwater observation, gill netting, beach seines, hoop nets, fyke nets, trap nets, electroshocking, minnow traps, enclosure (pop drop and throw) traps, angler surveys, commercial surveys.  
1.3 The focus of this guide is to provide sampling practices for fish collection. This standard does not cover the identification of species or any statistical methods for the sampling data.  
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Refer to the MSDSs for all chemicals used in this procedure.  
1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Aug-2021
• ICS: 65.150 - Fishing and fish breeding
• Technical Committee: D19 - Water
• Drafting Committee: D19.24 - Water Microbiology

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D4211 − 21
Standard Guide for
1
Fish Sampling
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4211; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope* 2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.1 This guide covers the use of lethal and non-lethal
D1129 Terminology Relating to Water
collection practices for fish.
D4131 Practice for Sampling Fish with Rotenone
1.1.1 Lethal practices include the use of rotenone and
antimycin which are used to collect or eradicate fish; numerous
3. Terminology
chemicals have been used but presently only rotenone and
antimycin are U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-
3.1 Definitions:
approved for this use.
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this standard, refer to
Terminology D1129.
1.2 Non-lethal collection practices typically do not cause
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
mortality to fish.
3.2.1 rotenone, n—an odorless, colorless, crystalline isofla-
1.2.1 Non-lethal practices include surface or bank
vone used as a broad-spectrum insecticide, piscicide, and
observation, underwater observation, gill netting, beach seines,
pesticide.
hoop nets, fyke nets, trap nets, electroshocking, minnow traps,
3.2.1.1 Discussion—This chemical is commonly used as
enclosure (pop drop and throw) traps, angler surveys, commer-
nonselective piscicide (fish killer).
cial surveys.
1.3 The focus of this guide is to provide sampling practices
4. Significance and Use
for fish collection. This standard does not cover the identifica-
4.1 Fish sampling includes a number of lethal and non-
tion of species or any statistical methods for the sampling data.
lethal practices.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
4.2 This guide provides an overview of commonly used fish
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
sampling practices.
standard.
4.3 This summary serves as a brief accounting of options
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
available to personnel responsible for determining the fish
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
sampling practice or practices that best serve the sampling
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
objectives.
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
5. Basis of Classification of Practices
Refer to the MSDSs for all chemicals used in this procedure.
5.1 Lethal Practices—The significance of using chemical
1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-
fishtoxicantsisthatmorecompletepopulationanalysesortotal
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
eradication, or both, can be accomplished. Target species can
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
be selectively eradicated by varying concentrations. This
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
provides a very effective tool in fisheries investigations and
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
management programs. Water conditions (that is, pH,
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
temperature, alkalinity, and so forth) and morphology can be
limiting factors.
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D19 on Water and is
the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.24 on Water Microbiology.
2
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2021. Published September 2021. Originally For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
approved in 1982. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as D4211 – 82 (2012) contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
which was withdrawn January 2021 and reinstated in September 2021. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/D4211-21. the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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D4211 − 21
5.1.1 Rotenone—Rotenone used as a fish toxicant is highly mesh that extends behind the plane of the net is built into the
versatile and can be used effectively to collect fish samples; to midpoint, so that fish move into the bag as the net is pulled
eradicate fish; and to selectively remove certain fish species
forward.
(see Practice D41
...