By James Genge, Bournemouth University

I was fortunate enough to be able to take part in the SAMARCH project with Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust during the summer of 2022. During my time working on the Frome, I gained valuable fieldwork experience, which included: netting, data entry, scale processing, boat/bucket hauling and general assistance. This was a hugely beneficial experience and I feel I have learned a lot about the life cycle of Salmon and Trout and the many threats to their survival, as well as coming face to face with various other species that inhabit our rivers (such as the huge Pike pictured below). It was a privilege to work alongside and learn from fisheries ecologists and experts in the field, and I would recommend this opportunity to any student interested in aquatic ecology.