Electricity in Fish Research and Management. Theory and Practice

Abstract

Electricity in Fish Research and Management, 2nd edition, provides a comprehensive discussion of the uses of both electricity and electrical principles in fishery management and research.  It covers electric fishing (including theory, equipment, data analysis and practical factors affecting efficiency), fish barriers, fish counters and fish welfare issues.

The book concentrates on electric fishing (or electrofishing), an internationally accepted and widely used procedure for sampling fish. Over the past 50 years, electric fishing has become a standard method for fishery studies and management (e.g. establishing population densities and abundance).  However, due to the potential hazards of the method (to both operators and fish) there is a continuing need to develop and promote best practice guidelines.

The author has studied fish ecology for 40 years and understands the need for information that reaches out to all levels of understanding in the field.  Previous books on this subject have either been collections of scientific papers and/or technical reports or very simple instruction manuals.  In this book, theory and practice are explained using non-technical language and simple equations.  This brings depth as well as breadth in both information and principles behind the methods, and should be an invaluable tool to both fisheries managers and researchers.

Although the book is aimed at undergraduates, the clear explanation of the factors means that the book is suitable for all levels of practitioners.