Novel Method to Eradicate Invasive Fish from Lakes
Background
Many small bodies of water in the United States are plagued with
invasive species of
fish, such as Wyoming's Yellowstone Lake. Here an infestation of lake
trout was discovered in 1992, posing a significant threat to the
lake's native cutthroat
trout.
Fish managers sometimes use poisons, such as
rotenone, to kill off invasive species. However, poisoning has the
unwelcome effect of destroying not only the undesirable species,
but the entire fish population.
Clearly, a technology that would target
only a lake's unwanted fish would be
a welcome advance.
Proposal To employ the current technology of small radio controlled submarines, and adding to it a system of miniature video cameras with optically aligned sights, integrated with lethal darts. The submarine operator would target invasive species of fish remotely, via video screen, with a trigger mechanism to fire the lethal darts. As is the case with pneumatic spearguns, currently in use in the sport of spearfishing, the darts could be propelled by compressed gas. Unwanted fish could easily be targeted when they are in clear, shallow water, such as during breeding season.
Examples of Radio Controlled
Submarines
To see miniature radio controlled submarines in
action, click either of the two icons below:
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