Phoxinus phoxinus, the Eurasian minnow. © Jack Perks

Conservation efforts for freshwater fishes tend to be concerned with large, often migratory, ‘flagship’ species such as salmon, trout, and sturgeon, but a new project funded by National Geographic and backed by the United Kingdom Environment Agency, among others, aims to catalogue populations of the smaller groups commonly referred to as ‘tiddlers’.

These fishes, which include the ninespine stickleback, Pungitus pungitius, spined loach, Cobitis taenia, and minnow, Phoxinus phoxinus, are mostly overlooked and not particularly well-known in the UK. However, in terms of biodiversity and ecosystem function they’re equally important as any other animal, plant or microorganism.

Cottus gobio is commonly known as the bullhead. © Jack Perks

Higher animals such as kingfishers and otters prey on them, for example, and their presence is often acknowledged as an indicator of the overall health of a habitat since they mostly inhabit pristine environments.

Brainchild of wildlife photographer and angler Jack Perks, the mini fish survey therefore hopes to establish patterns of distribution and abundance of these fishes throughout the country via an online form designed to be filled in by members of the public.

How can I help?

The project has Facebook and Twitter accounts, but what’s really needed in order for it to work is public involvement in the survey itself, so if you want to help the best thing to do is simply get involved!

If you live close to a river, stream, canal, pond or lake in the UK get out there, have a poke around with a net, lay a minnow or bottle trap overnight, or even follow Jack’s lead and don a wetsuit-snorkel combo to record out what inhabits your neighbourhood waters…

In the UK the spined loach, Cobitis taenia, is known from only 5 watersheds in eastern England. © Jack Perks

…record details of the species encountered then go and fill in the official survey form which is quick and easy to do. The links are as follows:

Survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/99PXDHM

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/UkMiniFishStudy?ref=hl

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RiverFishUk

We think this is a super-positive initiative and hopefully it will not only provide important information to environmental authorities, but also raise overall awareness about freshwater fishes in the UK and beyond.

The full list of included species is as follows:

Blicca bjoerkna (silver bream)

© J.C. Schou

Pungitius pungitius (nine/ten-spined sticklback)

© Colin Dunlop

Phoxinus phoxinus (minnow)

© Matt Ford

Cottus gobio (bullhead)

© WoRMS

Cobitis taenia (spined loach)

© Jack Perks

Barbatula barbatula (stone loach)

© Jack Perks

Gymnocephalus cernua (ruffe)

© Tiit Hunt

Alburnus alburnus (bleak)

© David Perez