Case Study: eDNA Surface Sampling for Fisheries Management

Industry

Fisheries

Challenge

Monitoring fish distribution across 1300+ freshwater sites, including remote wetlands, headwaters and small lakes.

Results

The eDNA Surface Sampler enabled baseline surveys and ongoing monitoring at locations where traditional survey methods and other existing eDNA sampling tools are impractical or impossible to use. Field teams collect samples quickly without complex setup, allowing more sites to be sampled per day and reducing overall field costs. From wetlands and small lakes to roadside ditches and remote headwaters, the sampler performed consistently across platforms and environments.

Key Product

eDNA Surface Sampler

“You can get out into the middle of a wetland, stick your filter over the side, hit the button, and sit there writing in your field notebook. That flexibility is huge.”

John Hagan

Coastal Habitat Biologist | NWIFC

NWIFC eDNA Surface SamplerGOPR0071 (web)

About NWIFC

The Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission supports 20 tribal fisheries managers in Western Washington to collect the data needed for baselines and ongoing monitoring.

The Challenge

Monitoring fish distribution across remote wetlands, headwaters and small lakes presents persistent challenges, including:

Limited access and short field windows
Incompatibility of traditional sampling methods
High labor and equipment burden
Risk of contamination or inconsistent results

To support tribal fisheries managers in Western Washington collect the data needed for baselines and ongoing monitoring, NWIFC needed a portable, reliable eDNA sampling tool that could scale across hundreds of sites while remaining simple enough for diverse field conditions, including remote helicopter-access only sites, wetlands and headwaters.

The Solution

NWIFC was the first adopter to include the Ocean Diagnostics eDNA Surface Sampler into its existing eDNA monitoring program, which covers 1,300 freshwater sites.

Key instrument features supporting field success:

Lightweight, backpack-friendly design
Compatibility with small boats and pack rafts
Simple, one-button operation
Rechargeable and long-lasting battery compatibility

“I really like the simplicity and compact nature of the sampler. We keep extra batteries charged in the car — we’ve never had one die.”

The Results

Expanded monitoring coverage

The sampler enables baseline surveys and ongoing monitoring at locations where traditional survey methods and other existing eDNA sampling tools are impractical or impossible to use.

Improved efficiency

Field teams can collect samples quickly without complex setup, allowing more sites to be sampled per day and reducing overall field costs.

Reliable performance in diverse conditions

From wetlands and small lakes to roadside ditches and remote headwaters, the sampler performed consistently across platforms and environments.

Impact

By prioritizing portability, ease of use and reliable sampling, Ocean Diagnostics’ eDNA Surface Sampler enables fisheries to sample more often in many different environments and build the datasets needed to protect species in decline.

Using the Ocean Diagnostics eDNA Surface Sampler, NWIFC and tribal fisheries managers are:

Detecting salmon in previously undocumented habitats
Tracking shifting baselines that might be linked to climate change
Supporting restoration planning with actionable data
Strengthening fisheries conservation outcomes at scale

“Creating an accurate index of occupancy across the landscape really empowers tribal fisheries managers. It supports smarter restoration and better long-term recovery.”