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Boat Electrofishing Relative to Anode Arrangement
Author(s) -
Miranda L. E.,
Kratochvíl M.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
transactions of the american fisheries society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.696
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1548-8659
pISSN - 0002-8487
DOI - 10.1577/t07-243.1
Subject(s) - electrofishing , boom , anode , marine engineering , voltage , fish <actinopterygii> , materials science , environmental science , electrical engineering , geology , physics , oceanography , fishery , engineering , biology , electrode , quantum mechanics
Abstract We assessed the effect of boom (i.e., anode) arrangement (a single boom and double booms spaced 1.3, 1.9, and 3.2 m apart) on the characteristics of the electric field formed ahead of an electrofishing boat as well as on fish catch. Anode arrangement affected the lengthwise and crosswise characteristics of the field. As a general rule, rearranging the anodes from a single boom located centrally to a double‐boom system with broadly separated anodes shifted the strength of the field outward (away from the center) and forward (away from the boat). The highest voltage gradients occurred when the anodes had the greatest separation. Catch rates varied by boom arrangement, increasing as boom separation increased. Differences in species and length selectivity with respect to boom arrangement were minor. We suggest that the double‐boom arrangement with the booms placed about 1.9 m apart (but no more than about 2.5 m) is suitable for most electrofishing applications.