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Evaluating the Power Output of the Smith‐Root GPP 5.0 Electrofisher to Promote Electrofishing Fleet Standardization
Author(s) -
Martinez Patrick J.,
Kolz A. Lawrence
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
north american journal of fisheries management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1548-8675
pISSN - 0275-5947
DOI - 10.1577/m08-166.1
Subject(s) - electrofishing , environmental science , marine engineering , power (physics) , range (aeronautics) , hull , computer science , materials science , engineering , physics , fishery , fish <actinopterygii> , composite material , biology , quantum mechanics
The Smith‐Root (S‐R) series of GPP (gas‐powered pulsator) electrofishers are widely used in boat‐mounted electrofishing systems. Sampling in waters having different conductivities requires adjustment of the electrofisher controls to maintain consistent output power. However, the current meter supplied on GPP electrofishers provides an average rather than a peak measurement, and because no voltmeter is included, determining peak power output is not possible. As part of an overall effort to promote standardization of electrofishing operations, we used static electrical loads to measure the output characteristics of the commonly used S‐R GPP 5.0 electrofishers under simulated electrofishing conditions. The range of resistance values to be simulated with static loads was extrapolated from in‐water measurements of five electrode configurations consisting of paired, half‐submerged, spherical anodes in combination with a 5.5‐m‐long flat‐bottom aluminum‐hull boat serving as the cathode. We measured the power output of GPP 5.0 electrofishers while they were connected to static loads of 114, 19, 9.5, and 5.7 Ω to simulate a wide range of ambient water conductivity values (approximately 100–1,000 μS/cm). These measurements of GPP 5.0 power output will provide electrofishing fleets with an improved understanding of electrofisher operational controls and performance and allow for a more consistent method of selecting electrofisher settings.