Electrical deterrent barriers for lake sturgeon - proof of concept testing

由于泉水通过OPG位于Mattagami河上的Little Long发电站的Adam Creek溢洪道分流，鲟鱼经常在季节性和/或周期性的基础上被夹带。OPG研究了许多防止夹带的方法，包括实施物理和行为屏障的可行性研究。本研究将测试实施弱电场屏障的概念证明，以确定其作为湖鲟威慑的可行性。俄罗斯最近的研究表明，弱电场作为一种手段，阻止湖鲟鱼从附近地区的溢洪道/发电站可能发生夹带的潜力。为此，物种生物学的差异表明，需要确保鲟鱼湖存在类似的行为反应，同时确保大规模实施不会对本地种群造成伤害。因此，需要完成一项与湖鲟有关的特定物种试点研究。本研究将使用孵化场鱼类，以确定弱电场是否对湖鲟的自由游泳行为产生可观察到的影响，以及暴露于弱电场是否有任何短期或长期的生理后果。由于该研究对试验鱼或对照鱼都没有致死终点，因此预期将所用鱼重新纳入孵化场种群并最终释放到野外。

As a result of spring water diversion through the Adam Creek Spillway at OPG's Little Long Generating station on the Mattagami River Lake Sturgeon often become entrained on a seasonal and/or periodic bases. OPG has investigated numerous methods for preventing entrainment, including feasibility studies for implementation of physical and behavioral barriers. This study will test proof of concept for the implementation of weak electric field barriers to determine their viability as a deterrent for lake sturgeon. Recent Russian studies have demonstrated the potential for weak electrical fields to serve as a means of deterring lake sturgeon from areas proximate to spillways/generating stations where entrainment might occur. To this end, differences in the biology of the species suggests the need to ensure similar behavioral responses exist for Lake Sturgeon while ensuring no harm to native populations would result from large scale implementation. As such, a species-specific pilot study pertinent to lake sturgeon needs to be completed. This study will use hatchery fish to determine if weak electric fields produce observable effects on the free-swimming behavior of lake sturgeon and if exposure to weak electric fields have any short-term or long-term physiological consequences. As the study does not have a lethal endpoint for either test or control fish, re-integration of the fish used into the hatchery stock and ultimate release to the wild is anticipated.