What is "electrofishing"

n. a kind of fishing that uses electricity to stun the fish before they are caught, often used in scientific surveys so that the fish can be studied and returned to the water alive

Electrofishing uses direct current electricity flowing between a submerged cathode and anode. This affects the movement of the fish so that they swim towards the anode where they can be caught.

Electrofishing is a common scientific survey method used to sample fish populations to determine abundance, density, and species composition. When performed correctly, electrofishing results in no permanent harm to fish, which return to their natural state in as little as two minutes after being caught.