Response of seaward-migrating European eel (Anguilla anguilla) to an infrasound deterrent
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Published source details
Piper A.T., White P.R., Wright R.M., Leighton T.G. & Kemp P.S. (2019) Response of seaward-migrating European eel (Anguilla anguilla) to an infrasound deterrent. Ecological Engineering, 127, 480-486.
Published source details Piper A.T., White P.R., Wright R.M., Leighton T.G. & Kemp P.S. (2019) Response of seaward-migrating European eel (Anguilla anguilla) to an infrasound deterrent. Ecological Engineering, 127, 480-486.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Install deterrents at water intake and discharge points (e.g. acoustic devices, electric or bubble screens, lights) Action Link |
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Install deterrents at water intake and discharge points (e.g. acoustic devices, electric or bubble screens, lights)
A controlled study in 2013 in a river in Dorset, UK (Piper et al. 2019) found that an acoustic deterrent device did not reduce the number of migrating European eels Anguilla anguilla that passed through a hydropower intake, and eels had longer more erratic movements when the device was turned on. Similar numbers of eels passed through a water intake when the acoustic device was turned on (total 14 eels) and off (total 18 eels). With the device turned on, eels had more erratic movements and longer tracks (average 85 m) than when the device was off (average 38 m). In November 2013, an infrasound (12 Hz) 'Profish' device was suspended in the water column in the centre of an intake channel of a redundant hydropower facility. The device was switched on (emitting continuously) or off during alternating nightly trials over 10 consecutive nights. Fifty migrating silver eels (56–78 cm long) captured downstream were tagged and released immediately upstream of the intake channel during each trial. Eels were tracked by an array of eight hydrophones.
(Summarised by: Vanessa Cutts)
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