IMIS - Marine Onderzoeksgroepen

Samples of fish were taken during the day on 11/8/1993, 12/8/1993, 13/8/1993 and 18/8/1993, while night samples were collected on 18/8/1993. Sampling was done during low tide only. Ten fykenets with mesh size 18 mm stretched in the codend and 26 mm stretched near the mouth 0,864 m mouth opening and 1,765 m wing length and a dragnet with mesh size 20mm stretched, 2,356 m mouth opening and 5m wing length were used for catching fish. On average, 17,85m^2 and 87,5m^2 of the creek was sampled by fyke nets and dragnet respectively. Epifauna samples were collected by cutting the elevated stands of seagrass (Enhalus acoroides and Thalasodendron ciliatum), seaweeds (Halimeda opuntia, Sargassum binderi and Gracilaria crassa) and portions of rhizophores which are permanently submerged in the water. The roots were further divided into 3 sections of 10 cm long each. The bottom (0 - 10 cm) above the sediments, the middle (10 - 20 cm) and the upper section (20 - 30 cm). Plastic bags were used to cover the stands to prevent fast moving epifauna from escaping. The sampling spot (East Creek Gazi bay) was 450m from the lowest water level mark and 150m from the mouth of the creek.