The Electrofishing App EL-Reg

ELReg is an app for recording and reporting electrofishing data in the field.
Select your location from a map, or create a new location. Go through the steps and upload the data via the app to the Swedish Electrofishing Register (SERS) for review. The data is used in assessments of ecological status in Swedish watercourses, in research projects, and much more.

The new app – ELReg – is an offline-based digital tool for reporting electrofishing data. In the app, users can plan upcoming electrofishing events and record completed ones for reporting to the Swedish Electrofishing Register (SERS). ELReg is intended to replace the current Excel protocols and reduce the time spent on reporting electrofishing data. Currently, the app is tailored for selected electrofishers, but over time, we hope that more authorities, companies, consultants, and organizations will be able to use the app in their work and contribute to research.

The user selects an existing location or registers a new one from a map in EL-Reg. Then, the user is guided through the data registration, which is divided into five steps:

1. Planning

The user enters information about the electrofishing event, such as its purpose, date, number of fishing sessions, performers, and the client commissioning the fishing.

2. Catch data

The user records the catch per fishing session. In this section, the species is selected, and the length and, if applicable, the weight of each measured individual are reported. Also, 0+/>0+ threshold length fvalues for salmonid fish are recorded here.

3. Electrofishing data

Here, the user enters information about the execution of the fishing event. Date, equipment model, type of equipment (gasoline or battery-powered), and voltage (V) are also recorded.

4. Feature of the location

Here, the user records details about the location's feature and environment, including its dimensions (width and length), water level and depth, water and air temperature, substrate and vegetation dominance and occurrence, type of surrounding environment, tree dominance, migration barriers, and habitat.

If the user has conducted a transect measurement, this is entered under this category.

5. Impact

This section records the impact on the location, such as liming, acidification, beaver dams, and drought. This step is filled out only if the impact is known.

Once the user has entered all required data, the completed electrofishing event can be uploaded via the app to the SERS database for review and results. The app also includes comment fields under each category where additional information about the fishing can be added beyond the existing forms.

Data for research, red lists, and ecological status

Database for fish monitoring in rivers and streams is officially called the Swedish Electrofishing Register (SERS). Data submitted to SERS is used in national evaluations, such as in assessing the ecological status of our watercourses, as well as in the follow-up of fisheries management measures (e.g., liming, the construction of fishways, habitat restoration). Data from the database is also used in research projects and national summaries, such as the SLU Swedish Species Information Centre's Red List.

Download the app

Download ELReg (App Store)

Download ElReg (Google Play)