Have you ever wondered what fish are in the Mississippi River? How about what is swimming around in the Forest Home Chute or the lakes around Tara?
Since the 1940’s electroshocking has been used as a sampling tool for fisheries management. By examining the fish collected by this method, managers can determine what kinds and how many fish are in a body of water as well as get an idea of the overall health of the fish community.
How it works
Electroshocking equipment utilizes 2 electrodes that deliver a current into the water. When fish encounter the electric current, it stuns them and causes them to rise to the surface. This allows researchers to collect the fish in a net. The fish are examined, weighed, and/or measured and returned to the water.
At our summer camps, personnel from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP), bring their boat out to perform a fish survey using electroshocking methods.
Fish and Aquatic Ecology Studies
We use this method to teach campers about the species of fish found in the Mississippi River system, aquatic ecology, and fisheries management.
MWDFP places a strong emphasis on educating children toward wildlife resources found in Mississippi.
Wildlife Biologist John Skains says, “At Tara’s Summer Camp, we provide a close-up look at species found in the Mississippi River Ecosystem, focusing on identification and biology.”
