Project number
25035
Organization
UA School of Natural Resources & the Environment
Offering
ENGR498-F2024-S2025
Non-native fish threaten local aquatic ecosystems and the economies that depend on them. Biological and chemical solutions are controversial and often don’t allow for selection between native and non-native fish. Mechanical removal methods are promising and less controversial but need to be optimized to maximize control of non-native fish and minimize cost.
Electrofishing – a method of mechanical fishing that uses an electric field underwater to stun or herd fish via involuntary muscle contractions – has traditionally been used for sampling rather than population control. This project introduces a specialized electrofishing system designed specifically for efficient non-native fish removal in rivers and streams.
The team developed a system with a modular, width-spanning frame that operators drag upstream. Each section is equipped with anode and cathode droppers that generate a controlled electric field to guide fish into a bag seine for manual removal. The system is powered by a generator and managed through a control box. Users can adjust voltage, frequency and current to optimize effectiveness based on the target fish species.
By combining precision electrofishing with strategic fish herding, this solution provides a scalable, nonchemical approach to invasive fish management. This balances ecological preservation with practical implementation.
Electrofishing – a method of mechanical fishing that uses an electric field underwater to stun or herd fish via involuntary muscle contractions – has traditionally been used for sampling rather than population control. This project introduces a specialized electrofishing system designed specifically for efficient non-native fish removal in rivers and streams.
The team developed a system with a modular, width-spanning frame that operators drag upstream. Each section is equipped with anode and cathode droppers that generate a controlled electric field to guide fish into a bag seine for manual removal. The system is powered by a generator and managed through a control box. Users can adjust voltage, frequency and current to optimize effectiveness based on the target fish species.
By combining precision electrofishing with strategic fish herding, this solution provides a scalable, nonchemical approach to invasive fish management. This balances ecological preservation with practical implementation.