Environmental group uses shocking method to catch fish

The Shediac Bay Watershed Association is using a device that stuns fish in order to allow the group to get an idea of how many species are living in Dionne Brook.

Jolyne Hébert, the field technician with the association, wears an electro-fishing backpack and accompanying wand, which look straight out of the 1984 comedy Ghostbusters.

But standing in water and wearing a contraption that is capable of sending out 1,000 volts of electricity is no laughing matter.

"It has to be taken very seriously, we have protocols we have to follow," said Hébert.

"The wand that I'm holding is the anode, and it's a ring where the positive charge comes out, and on the back of the electro fisher there is sort of a tail, we call it the cathode, and there is the negative charge coming out," she said.

"So, the positive charge and the negative charge work together and create a circuit and within that circuit you have an electricity field in the water."

When the machine is sending out electricity, it lets out an audible beep. The pulse attracts fish.

"Once it gets close enough, it will get stunned, it'll turn on it's side and float up to the water only for a few seconds and well scoop it up in a net put it into a bucket and the fish will revive within 10 seconds," Hébert said.

To keep from getting shocked with the fish, Hebert wears special rubber gloves and hip waders, preferably without holes.

"It happened to me twice and one of my calves ... was sore for a few days."

A safety course and first aid have to be taken to use the machine. The backpack also comes with safety features.

"If you tilt too far forward or too far forwards or from side to side, the electricity will stop."

Hébert and her team didn't net any big fish in Dionne Brook, a few brook stickleback, a couple of blacknose dace, and a common shiner.

The Shediac Bay Watershed Association is hoping that Thursday's findings will be a before snapshot of a brook in need of repair.

After more rehabilitation work is done in the area, with more trees planted and a re-enforced bank, Hébert hopes next year's electro-fishing expedition will show a larger variety of bigger fish.