Leigh Ann McDougal has started an interesting thread in Unio-L on the
effects of electrofishing on mollusks.
 
Survey biologist Stuart McGregor tells me that he has observed freshwater
snails release their hold on the substrate and drift downstream after they
have been shocked by electricity in Alabama streams. I hasten to add that
electrofishing is generally illegal in Alabama, but is permitted as a
scientific collection method.
 
My questions for Conchland and Unioland are these: Are mollusks
electrocuted or simply paralyzed by electrofishing? Are mussels affected as
well as snails? Are results different in seawater and freshwater? If
mollusks are killed by electric shock, is there any evidence that
electrofishing contributes to the extirpation of populations in streams?
 
Andrew K. Rindsberg
Curator, Paleontological Collection
Geological Survey of Alabama