Techniques for measuring the effects of nuclear power plants on local fish

The Applied Physics Laboratory and Fisheries Research Institute at the University of Washington have developed acoustic equipment and techniques that are now being used to help access the effects of coastal power plants on fish. The technique consists of acoustic assessment of fish abundance with a portable, towed assessment system and simultaneous measurement of the temperature at several depths in and around the thermal plume. When the acoustic-temperature measurements are used in conjunction with an acoustically directed sample fishing program, data on species composition can also be obtained.