Effectiveness of the electric fish fence as a behavioural barrier at a pumping station
Leonhard Egg A , Joachim Pander A , Melanie Mueller A and Juergen Geist A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Aquatic Systems Biology Unit, Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Management, Technical University of Munich, Mühlenweg 22, D-85354 Freising, Germany.
B Corresponding author. Email: geist@wzw.tum.de
Marine and Freshwater Research 70(10) 1459-1464 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF18459
Submitted: 28 August 2018 Accepted: 21 March 2019 Published: 24 May 2019
Abstract
Dyke-based pumping stations have been linked with high fish mortalities during pumping events. Behavioural barriers like electric fish fences have been proposed as a promising solution to prevent entrainment of fish into pumps. In order to test the effectiveness of such barriers, the intake of a pumping station was equipped with a new generation electric fish fence while fish behaviour was observed with an adaptive resolution imaging sonar (ARIS) during non-electrified (reference) and electrified (treatment) operation modes. This study revealed the functionality of the fish fence as a behavioural barrier, with a fish turning rate of up to 72% at a mean water temperature of 4.3°C and a mean current velocity of 0.05 m s–1. These field results suggest that new-generation electric fish fences may be a promising solution to reduce the effects of pumping stations on fish.
Additional keywords: adaptive resolution imaging sonar, ARIS, fish monitoring, fish passage, fish protection device, flood protection.
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