A great blue heron stands on a fyke net, a large hoop net that acts as a funnel to trap swimming fish.

This particular net is acting as a downstream smolt trap in Scott Creek, above the lagoon. Salmon Ecology Team researchers collect salmonids caught in the net and record information such as tag number, length, and weight. Samples are taken for ageing and genetic analysis, after which the fish are released.

Date: June 2002
Location: Scott Creek (Santa Cruz County)
Contact: SWFSC Fisheries Ecology Division, Salmon Ecology Team