Electric fishing is a very controversial way of catching fish in various bodies of water. The beautiful thing about fishing is how diverse the extraction methods of different species can be, the bad thing about this is that not all these modalities enhance the art and many are not exactly friendly with nature.
The use of electricity became popular in the 40s, being used on many occasions in the field of aquatic fauna research. In general, it is sought to do it in rivers, since its own flow and space allow it to be done comfortably.
fishing with electricity
When electricity is used for fishing, use low intensity electrical current. The water, a perfect electrical conductor, then allows the fish to receive the flow of discharge and become paralyzed, proceeding to catch these with a net.
To fish with electricity on a small scale, fishermen can walk the banks of rivers and apply the current to specific areas where there are fish nearby. Others tend to venture a little deeper and connect the lines of the devices that generate the current and submerge it in the water, thus seeking to stun the fish and catch the fish.
electric trawler
To level commercial electricity use has also been used for fishing larger masses of fish or even for large specimens. It is considered a variant of arrate fishing, where instead of using the chains to remove the seabed and make the fish rise and enter the net, electricity is used in this case.
With the use of electric current, when the fish are stunned, they rise to the surface and make it easier to catch them with the huge commercial fishing nets. This method works great for flounder fishing and even shrimp.
Safety measures for fishing with electricity
Anglers fishing with this method should consider some basic security measures to avoid accidents:
- Try not to submerge the body, especially the hands in case it is done on the shore or boat, less than 2 meters from the area where the download is made.
- Fish that have been shocked should not be caught without the use of gloves.
- This practice is impossible to do when there is very bad weather, electric shocks or rain.
Electric fishing controversies
Many experts believe that this it is a cruel method that can affect aquatic fauna. It is also a way of excessively exploiting resources and could contribute to the extinction of some species. Those countries that support this practice advocate lower fuel consumption and they argue that they can be fished more focally, returning specimens that are not of interest.
However in Spain the practice is prohibited, being that this was not and is not an attractive option for sport fishermen and even less so for artisanal or commercial fishing.
