Poplar Island Environmental Restoration Project Nekton Data

The Poplar Island Environmental Restoration Project (PIERP) is a large scale 1,800 acres restoration project located in mid Chesapeake Bay. Fishery collections are conducted three times per year to assess fishery use of restored wetlands. Collection gear types used included fyke net, gill net, crab pot, and otter trawl all used to assess forage and predator fish abundances. Survey data is used to assess the functions of the restored PIERP wetlands, and adjacent shallow water habitats influenced by the PIERP, relative to reference habitats and to pre-construction conditions. Data from these collections will also help assess restored wetland maturity and its ability to maintain stable resident and predator fish populations.