By ELIZABETH BINNING
Waikato's newest fishing boat is a little different: its two "rods" are electrified and the fish come to you.
It was designed by Waikato University staff to help remove pest fish from local waterways.
Two sets of electrical prongs hang off the front. When 500 volts of electricity is
pumped through them into the water, fish within a 5m radius are stunned. They float to the surface where they are easily netted.
Senior lecturer Brendan Hicks, one of the boat's developers, said pest fish were difficult to remove because conventional fishing techniques were time-consuming and non-selective.
The $80,000 electro-fishing boat, the first of its kind in New Zealand, solves the problems.
Only unwanted pests such as koi carp, rudd or catfish, are netted. They are later killed using an anesthetic. Other fish are left in the water where they are free to swim away once they recover from the momentary stunning.
The boat also helps scientists to collect research material.
On the Whangamarino River near Meremere yesterday, students Grant Tempero and Matt Osborne joined Mr Hicks in the 4.5m boat.
Mr Tempero is studying the biology of koi carp for a master of science degree. Koi carp are a pest fish which damage aquatic vegetation in Waikato's shallow lakes.
Until now he has had to use nets to catch the fish for his research, which will hopefully help to eradicate the pest.
"With the nets I would have to come to the site three or four times and it would take me about eight hours to get the sample numbers," he said.
"On the boat it takes about an hour."
The boat has also attracted the interest of Environment Waikato and the Department of Conservation. Next month they will use it to get rid of unwanted rudd, goldfish and catfish from Lake Rotopiko, near Ohaupo.
