Effects of electrical stimulation on marine organisms

Boute, P.G.

doi:10.18174/566867

Cited by 6 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 208 publications

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“…Minor abnormalities were observed in similar numbers in exposed and control fish and are therefore unlikely to be electrical-pulse induced. These minor abnormalities may be developmental deformations or old injuries from which the fish have recovered, and therefore are unrelated to electrical-pulse exposure (Sharber et al, 1994;Soetaert et al, 2018;Boute, 2022).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…sediment, animals will experience lower internal FS, and are therefore presumably less affected than animals in the water column that are exposed to the same external FS (ICES, 2020;Boute, 2022). The electrical properties of the body depend on factors such as body shape, insulating characteristics of the skin, body fluids, muscle fibre type, and subcutaneous fat layers (Snyder, 2003;Polet, 2010;Soetaert et al, 2016a;Boute, 2022). These factors may set different thresholds for inducing double-sided muscle cramps.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These factors may set different thresholds for inducing double-sided muscle cramps. Moreover, differences in body characteristics such as the distribution of muscle mass and number, shape, and size of vertebrae may affect the probability that pulse-induced muscle cramps lead to internal injuries (Soetaert et al, 2018;Boute, 2022). Interspecific differences in sensitivity to pulse-induced internal injuries are therefore to be expected.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Internal injuries were categorized to enable standardized and consistent scoring as described by Boute (2022). Spinal injuries were scored in three categories: minor, moderate, and severe.…”

Section: Assessment Of Spinal Injuries and Internal Haemorrhagesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Spinal injuries caused by involuntary muscle contractions induced by pulse stimulation have been reported in several species (van Marlen et al, 2014;de Haan et al, 2016;Soetaert et al, 2016a,b). The sensitivity among fish species for pulse-induced injuries was estimated by extensive sampling of target and non-target species from catches of commercial pulse and tickler-chain beam trawlers (ICES, 2020;Boute, 2022;Boute et al, 2022). In most species, relatively low spinal injury probabilities were found in pulse-trawl catches.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effect of electrical stimulation used in the pulse trawl fishery for common sole on internal injuries in sandeels

Schram

Molenaar

Soetaert³

et al. 2022

ICES Journal of Marine Science

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Electric stimulation was used in the North Sea beam trawl fishery for common sole to reduce its environmental impact. Because electrical stimulation may cause internal injuries in fish, a laboratory experiment was conducted to study the effect of pulse exposure on lesser sandeel (Ammodytes tobianus) and greater sandeel (Hyperoplus lanceolatus), important mid-trophic species in the North Sea ecosystem. We exposed 244 sandeels between two electrodes to a pulsed bipolar current for 2 s in an experimental cage with 5 cm sediment; 221 control fish were handled similarly but not exposed. The occurrence of spinal injuries and internal haemorrhages were scored using X-radiography and dissection. None of the sandeels exposed to a field strength of up to 600 V m–1 showed spinal injury or haemorrhage. Equal numbers of minor spinal abnormalities were found in exposed and control fish. In the absence of spinal injuries, we estimated by bootstrapping the field strength below which spinal injuries are unlikely to occur, i.e. the lower limit threshold, and the corresponding limit dose–response relationship between field strength and injury probability. We conclude that it is unlikely that pulse trawl fishery will have an ecologically significant adverse effect on the population abundance of sandeels, because of the low probabilities of exposure and injury.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Assessment Of Spinal Injuries and Internal Haemorrhagesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effect of electrical stimulation used in the pulse trawl fishery for common sole on internal injuries in sandeels

Schram

Molenaar

Soetaert³

et al. 2022

ICES Journal of Marine Science

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Electrotrawling can improve the sustainability of the bottom trawl fishery for sole: a review of the evidence

Rijnsdorp,

Boute,

Tiano

et al. 2024

Rev Fish Biol Fisheries

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Between 2009 and 2021 almost the complete beam trawl fleet of the Netherlands switched from conventional beam trawls (BT) to pulse trawls (PT) using electrical stimulation to catch sole, Solea solea. Electric fishing, being banned in the EU in 1988, was made possible in 2006 under a derogation. Over the years stakeholders expressed concern about ecosystem effects. Here we review the research conducted. PT improved the selectivity of the fishery and reduced the ecological side effects. PT caught more sole per hour fishing but less discards and benthos than BT. The transition to PT reduced the surface area swept (lower towing speed), sediment depth of disturbance and associated benthic impacts, as well as fuel consumption. Laboratory experiments with 9 fish and 17 benthic invertebrate species showed that exposure to a commercial bipolar pulse stimulus did not result in harmful effects except in cod. Autopsy of cod sampled from PT revealed that 40% had an internal injury. Injury rates in other roundfish species was low (< 2%) and absent in flatfish. Electrical-induced impacts on biogeochemistry were not observed. The transition increased competition with other fishers which fed the resentment against PT. Governance arrangements under which the number of temporary licenses expanded, undermined legitimacy of the gear, resulting in a ban in 2021. Although questions about the ecological impact of electrical stimulation remain, adverse effects are considered negligible in comparison with the benefits.

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Bioinspired flatfish detection using electrical impedance measurements

Nowak,

Lankheet

2023

Bioinspir. Biomim.

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Bottom trawling for flatfish by means of tickler chains has a high ecological impact due to the continuous seabed disturbance, low selectivity and high fuel costs. This issue could be significantly mitigated by using localized startle stimuli, triggered by a detection system that selectively targets flatfishes of landable size. Flatfish, however, constitute a significant challenge for remote detection, due to their low optical and acoustical signatures. Some species of predatory fish feeding on flatfish overcome this issue by using electroreception to localize they prey, even if it is buried in bottom sediments. We take this phenomenon as an inspiration in an attempt to develop a biomimetic remote fish detection technique based on electrical impedance measurements. We constructed a detection system including a set of electrodes and a low-cost analog front-end. The electrodes were mounted on a dedicated frame and dragged above a layer of sand inside a tank with sea water and several common sole (Solea solea). An underwater camera was used to acquire video recordings synchronized with impedance data for reference. We demonstrate that fish presence below the electrodes manifests itself by changes in the measured resistance and reactance values. This phenomenon occurs even if the fish is covered with a layer of sand. The results demonstrate the potential of bioinspired remote flatfish detection, which could be highly useful for monitoring or targeted stimulation.

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Effects of electrical stimulation on marine organisms

Cited by 6 publications

References 208 publications

Effect of electrical stimulation used in the pulse trawl fishery for common sole on internal injuries in sandeels

Effect of electrical stimulation used in the pulse trawl fishery for common sole on internal injuries in sandeels

Electrotrawling can improve the sustainability of the bottom trawl fishery for sole: a review of the evidence

Bioinspired flatfish detection using electrical impedance measurements

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