Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
New Electro Boat to help track fishery's health
David Carrick of Manitoba Fisheries Enhancement Fund with device. (JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)
Lake Winnipeg has its Namao research vessel.
Now other lakes have the Electro Boat.
The Electro Boat uses electric current to immobilize fish -- please don't say 'Tasers' fish, plead Manitoba Conservation officials -- so researchers can take counts and assess fish health.
The giant, glittery silver boat was unveiled Saturday at the Mid-Canada Boat Show in Winnipeg. "It's a way of ensuring we're preserving our fish stocks," said Water Stewardship Minister Christine Melnick.
The boat will replace gill nets in fisheries research that tend to result in high fish kills. The Electro Boat will not so much stun fish as render them unable to swim away. The fish make full recovery as soon as the current is switched off.
The current is run into the water using two booms extending three metres from the bow, creating a three-by-three-metre electrical field between the booms and the bow. Fish are then scooped out with nets into a recovery tank for study.
"This will help us determine things like which lakes need stocking, and if stocking of certain lakes has been effective," said Ken Kansas, a fisheries biologist.
It will also reveal composition of species, the age mix of species and detect invasive species. "There are many invasive species just knocking on our door," said Kansas.
Some invasive species in Manitoba lakes include zebra mussels, rainbow smelt and the recently discovered rusty crayfish in Falcon Lake.
"Frankly, Manitoba fish stocks are in really good shape. We're a come-to province as far as fishing goes," said Doug Leroux, a fisheries manager.
The Electro Boat cost $137,500 and is paid for out of a $5 check-off from sport fishing licences. Manitoba Conservation officers will be in charge of the boat but other fishery groups may use it in the future if trained.
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition March 1, 2009 A2
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