Electrofishing with LDWF

Environmental science students took part in data collection with agents from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries at Spanish Lake. The biologists explained why it is important to use scientific data to monitor the health of local waterways, to regulate species populations, and to observe the impact of harmful invasive species. Then, students participated in an electrofishing data collection in which they caught bass, a spotted gar, sac-au-lait, a catfish, and many small juvenile fishes. Students observed a fish dissection to extract the otolith bone for age determination, and they looked for eggs in the female. Some students seined while others observed the water quality testing equipment that the LDWF agents use in the field. "I never thought you could catch fish using electricity, especially fish as big as the spotted gar," says Irene Kaiser, '23.