Electrofishing in Practice: Variations in Regional, National, and Continental Approaches

Electrofishing is a commonly used sampling technique for fish in rivers, lakes, and sometimes in estuarine environments.  Regulations (permitting and licensing), electrical settings (waveform, frequency, duty cycle, and voltage), personnel training, peer reviewed reporting, and manufacturing specifications differ across of the world.  For example, there are some countries where electrofishing is prohibited, whereas others have no codes of practice whatsoever.  We have examined electrofishing guidelines and regulations, and conclude that an opportunity exists for the development of global standardization.