Environmental DNA
Traces of DNA that fish shed into water, which scientists collect and read to learn which species live there.
Also: eDNA
Fish shed skin cells, mucus and waste into the water, and each carries their DNA. By filtering a few litres of river or seawater and sequencing what is caught, scientists can list the species present without catching or even seeing them. Environmental DNA is used to track rare fish such as sawfish, to watch for invasive species such as Asian carp moving towards new lakes, and to survey deep or murky waters. It shows presence well, but the amount of DNA is only a rough guide to numbers.