Indices for common North American fishes
One of the greatest advantages to the standardization of fisheries sampling methods is the comparable data they produce (Bonar et al. 2017). Following American Fisheries Society (AFS) standardized sampling methods, fisheries professionals can more easily compare their data with standardized data collected across North America to address both small- and large-scale fisheries questions. For example, access to standardized data can allow fisheries managers to evaluate if a fish species is within an expected range for weight or length in a particular water body, providing them with valuable information about the baseline health of their fish population. Additionally, given that fish can take years to respond to certain management actions (Meals et al. 2010), access to standardized data over time can be used to assess the effectiveness of these actions. Finally, standardized fisheries data can be analyzed over large geographic regions and provide increased sample sizes to evaluate management actions that cross local or state borders, such as habitat improvements or regulations, as well as the effects of large-scale transformations such as climate change on fish growth or body condition. Ultimately, the use of standardized data enhances the ability of fisheries professionals to address both small- and large-scale threats currently facing freshwater ecosystems and the fishes they support.