Species identification workshops 2012 and 2013: Gobies and Elasmobranchs

Up until now, gobies of the genus Pomatoschistus have not been identified to the lowest taxonomic level during The Demersal Fish Survey (DFS), Sole Net Survey (SNS) and Beam Trawl Survey (BTS). It is however an abundant genus in the catches in the shallow coastal zone stations and it can be assumed that the species play a role in the coastal ecosystem. The correct identification on board is however questionable. For that reason, during the 2012 DFS extra attention has been paid to identification of Pomatoschistus species. On each of the three vessels carrying out the DFS, a Pomatoschistus expert (Cindy van Damme or Bram Couperus) was taken on board for one week. On board Stern and Schollevaar all Pomatoschistus have been identified to the species, and on board Isis part of the specimens were identified to the species, and part was taken to the lab. Samples were frozen following a protocol to keep the quality of the fish as good as possible and were taken back to the lab for identification. Main problems arose in identification of P. lozanoi and P. minutus. As even the experts did not agree, it is proposed to treat P. lozanoi and P. minutus as a group of species, and to identify the other species to the species level. From identification workshops and tests on demersal fish and benthos it became clear that specific attention should be paid to the elasmobranch species. On 20 March 2013 a dedicated species identification workshop focusing on elasmobranch species was organised for IMARES employees. Main purpose of the workshop was quality assurance of species identification of elasmobranch species. IMARES projects influenced by the quality of this species identification are i.a. the seagoing statutory task surveys, statutory task discard projects, PULSMON. The species to be identified were collected during the BTS2011 and BTS 2012 and stored in the freezer. Results are presented by expertise level of the employees. The expertise level was based on expertise and responsibilities during surveys and discard sampling. The results of the test and workshop were in line with earlier workshops focusing on fish and macrobenthos.