What is a recommended practice for handling fish specimens during electrofishing?

Minimizing handling time is crucial for maintaining fish health and reducing stress during electrofishing operations. Prolonged handling can cause physical damage, stress responses, and potential mortality in fish. The less time fish spend out of water, the better their chances of recovery and survival after being captured. Quick and efficient handling practices not only benefit the fish but also help in collecting data accurately and efficiently during the sampling process.

Other practices, like using gloves or dry hands, can vary in effectiveness and appropriateness. For instance, wool gloves might not provide the best grip or protection for delicate fish, and handling fish with dry hands can increase the risk of injury to their scales and mucus layers, which are essential for their health. Anaesthetizing fish before handling can help reduce stress, but it is not universally recommended for all situations and can complicate the handling process. Thus, minimizing handling time is the most universally beneficial practice in this context.