Canadian Manuscript Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Scienes No.2143
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Scientific Excellence • Resource Protection & Conservation • Benefits for Canadians Excellence scientifique • Protection et conservation des ressources • Bénéfices aux Canadiens DFO L bra y MPO - Biblio hèque - 111 111111111 I 11 12022500 A Prototype Submersible Electrofisher: Design and User Manual B. Emmett, C. D. Levings, P. Kerfoot, and R. B. Lauzier Biological Sciences Branch Department of Fisheries and Oceans West Vancouver Laboratory 4160 Marine Drive West Vancouver, British Columbia V7V 1N6 1992 Canadian Manuscript Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2143 / 1/3 I Fisheries Pêches If. and Oceans et Océans Canad3 Canadian Manuscript eport of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Manuscript reports contain scientific and technical information that contributes to existing knowledge but which deals with national or regional problems. Distribu- tion is restricted to institutions or individuals located in particular regions of Canada. However, no restriction is placed on subject matter, and the series reflects the broad interests and policies of the Department of Fis heries and Oceans, namely, fis heries and aquatic sciences. Manuscript reports may be cited as full publications. The correct citation appears above the abstract of each report. Each report is abstracted in Aquatic. Sciences and Fisheries Abstracts and indexed in the Department's annual index to scientific and technical publications. Numbers 1-900 in this series were issued as Manuscript Reports (Biological Series) of the Biological Board of Canada, and subsequent to 1937 when the name of the Board was changed by Act of Parliament, as Manuscript Reports (Biological Series) of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada. Numbers 901-1425 were issued as Manuscript Reports of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada. Numbers 1426 1550 were issued as Department of Fisheries and the Environment, Fisheries and Marine Service Manuscript Reports. The current series name was changed with report number 1551. Manuscript reports are produced regionally but are numbered nationally. Requests for individual reports will be filled by the issuing establishment listed on the front cover and title page. Out-of-stock reports will be supplied for a fee by commercial agents. Rapport manuscrit canadien des sciences halieutiques et aquatiques Les rapports manuscrits contiennent des renseignements scientifiques et techni- ques qui constituent une contribution aux connaissances actuelles, mais qui traitent de problèmes nationaux ou régionaux. La distribution en est limitée aux organismes et aux personnes de régions particulières du Canada. Il n'y a aucune restriction quant au sujet; de fait, la série reflète la vaste gamme des intérêts et des politiques du ministère des Pêches et des Océans, c'est-à-dire les sciences halieutiques et aquatiques. Les rapports manuscrits peuvent être cités comme des publications complètes. Le titre exact paraît au-dessus du résumé de chaque rapport. Les rapports manuscrits sont résumés dans la revue Résumés des sciences aquatiques et halieutiques, et ils sont classés dans l'index annuel des publications scientifiques et techniques du Ministère. Les numéros I à 900 de cette série ont été publiés à titre de manuscrits (série biologique) de l'Office de biologie du Canada, et après le changement de la désignation de cet organisme par décret du Parlement, en 1937, ont été classés comme manuscrits (série biologique) de l'Office des recherches sur les pêcheries du Canada. Les numéros 901 à 1425 ont été publiés à titre de rapports manuscrits de l'Office des recherches sur les pêcheries du Canada. Les numéros 1426 à 1550 sont parus à titre de rapports manuscrits du Service des pêches et de la mer, ministère des Pêches et de l'Environne- ment. Le nom actuel de la série a été établi lors de la parution du numéro 1551. Les rapports manuscrits sont produits à l'échelon régional, mais numérotés à l'échelon national. Les demandes de rapports seront satisfaites par l'établissement auteur dont le nom figure sur la couverture et la page du titre. Les rapports épuisés seront fournis contre rétribution par des agents commerciaux. J2,2( - 6P3e7 Canadian Manuscript Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2143 1992 A PROTOTYPE SUBMERSIBLE ELECTROFISHER: DESIGN AND USER MANUAL by B. Emmett', C. D. Levings, P. Kerfoot, and R. B. Lauzier ..., Department ot Fist-ten & oceans te\ItiOY 1.0 10 199219 Sciences Branch :it,•` -ss -01dos Biological Mitiist'èrbb b d-P.S1):.ctbs-pWl \ r Ocesru:Ocesrgs , Oceans 1 0 Department of Fisheries and _,...J.------- ------- West Vancouver Laboratory 4160 Marine Drive West Vancouver, British Columbia V7V 1N6 'Archipelago Marine Research Ltd. #11 - 1140 Fort Street Victoria, British Columbia V8V 3K8 à ii (c) Minister of Supply and Services Canada 1992 Cat. No. Fs 97-4/2143E ISSN 0706-6473 Correct citation for this publication: Emmett, B., C. D. Levings, P. Kerfoot, and R. B. Lauzier. 1992. A prototype submersible electrofisher: design and user manual. Can. Manuscr. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2143: 47 p. iii ABSTRACT Emmett, B., C. D. Levings, P. Kerfoot, and R. B. Lauzier. 1992. A prototype submersible electrofisher: design and user manual. Can. Manuscr. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2143: 47 p. A submersible electrofisher was developed to sample juvenile salmonids in river habitats during winter. The design and circuitry of the device are presented. Instructions for use by divers and safety precautions are given. RÉSUMÉ Emmett, B., C. D. Levings, P. Kerfoot, and R. B. Lauzier. 1992. A prototype submersible electrofisher: design and user manual. Can. Manuscr. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2143: 47 p. Un appareil submersible de pêche à l'électricité a été développé pour faire des prélèvements de saumoneaux en rivière pendant l'hiver. La conception et les circuits de l'appareil sont présentés. Les instructions d'utilisation par les plongeurs et les précautions de sécurité sont également données dans cet ouvrage. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 1.0 INTRODUCTION TO THE SUBMERSIBLE ELECTROFISHER 1 2.0 REVIEW OF ELECTROFISHING 2 2.1 BASIC ELECTRICAL THEORY 2 2.2 ELECTROFISHING EQUIPMENT 4 2.2.1 Power Output 4 2.2.2 Electrode Unit 5 2.2.3 Reaction of Fish to Pulsed Direct Current 5 2.3 FACTORS AFFECTING ELECTROFISHING EFFICIENCY 5 2.3.1 Conductivity 5 2.3.2 Water Temperature 6 2.3.3 Fish Size 6 2.3.4 Pulse Frequency 6 3.0 DESCRIPTION OF THE SUBMERSIBLE ELECTROFISHER 7 3.1 GENERAL 7 3.2 CONTROLS AND FEATURES 7 3.3 ELECTORODE UNITS 9 3.3.1 Quadrat Electrode Unit 9 3.2.2 Wand Electrode Unit 9 4.0 SAFETY PRECAUTIONS FOR SUBMERSIBLE ELECTROFISHING 9 4.1 SAFETY PROCEDURES 10 5.0 OPERATING PROCEDURES 11 5.1 PRE-OPERATIONAL 11 5.1.1 Le-ad Connections 11 5.1.2 Sealing the Unit 12 5.1.3 Pre-dive Procedures 12 5.2 OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES 13 5.2.1 General 13 5.2.2 Sampling Using the Quadrat Electrode 14 5.2.3 Sampling Using the Wand Electrode 15 5.2 POST-OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES 16 5.3.1 On-site 16 5.3.2 Battery Charging 16 V TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont'd) Page 6.0 MAINTENANCE, TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE 17 6.1 HOUSING AND EXTERNAL WIRES 17 6.2 CIRCUIT BOARD 17 6.3 BATTERIES 17 6.4 TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE 18 7.0 TROUBLESHOOTING 19 8.0 REFERENCES 21 APPENDIX 1 - Glossary of Electrical Terms 22 APPENDIX 2 - Technical Documentation 24 APPENDIX 3 - Letter from Worker's Compensation Board 31 LIST OF FIGURES 33 FIGURE 1 35 FIGURE 2 37 FIGURE 3 39 FIGURE 4 41 FIGURE 5 43 FIGURE 6 45 FIGURE 7 47 1 1.0 INTRODUCTION TO THE SUBMERSIBLE ELECTROFISHER NOTE THAT THIS UNIT IS POTENTIALLY LETHAL IF OPERATED IMPROPERLY. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT ALL OPERATORS READ AND UNDERSTAND THIS MANUAL AS WELL AS UNDERTAKE SPECIALIZED TRAINING IN OPERATING THE SUBMERSIBLE ELECTROFISHER. DISCLAIMER THE DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES AND OCEANS ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR INJURY RESULTING FROM THE USE OF A SUBMERSIBLE ELECTROFISHER BUILT FROM THE PLANS GIVEN IN THIS PUBLICATION. The submersible electrofisher has been designed to be operated in fresh water by divers appropriately equipped with SCUBA or snorkel equipment. Both the power and electrode units are submersible and operable at depths to 20 metres (65 feet). The electrofisher is portable and can be carried by the diver or placed on the bottom during electrofishing operations. The submersible electrofisher is designed to sample fish habitat which is not accessible by conventional electrofishing equipment. This includes deep water or areas some distance from the shoreline which cannot be reached with backpack electrofishing equipment. The electrode configuration generates a contained electrical field which samples a small volume of water or area of bottom substrate. Voltages used are lower (<450 V) than conventional electrofishing equipment. In this way the submersible electrofisher can be used to capture individual fish or to sample specific areas of fish cover (twig debris or bottom substrate). This manual reviews the basic theory of electrofishing, describes the submersible electrofisher and provides documentation for safe and effective operating procedures. 2 2.0 REVIEW OF ELECTROFISHING 2.1 BASIC ELECTRICAL THEORY An understanding of the electricity and electric circuits is essential for persons using electrofishing equipment. This section provides a basic outlineof electrical theory; a more extensive review can be obtained in most college level physics texts. Kolz and Reynolds (1989) provide an excellent review of electrical theory as applied to electrofishing. A glossary of electrical terms is given in Appendix 1. All physical material is composed of atoms, which contain a positively charged (+) nucleus surrounded by negatively charged (-) electrons. The three distinct charged particles associated with electrofishing are (1) electrons, (2) positive ions, (3) negative ions. These charged ions are the electrically active particles in water. Electrical energy is created by the separation of electrical charges between two terminals, the positive anode and the negative cathode.