The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of electric field strength and current duration on wild-caught Atlantic herring Clupea harengus stunned with sinusoidal 50-Hz AC in seawater. The fish were exposed to electric field strengths ranging from 16 to 142 V/m and current durations from 1 to 12 s. We recorded the elapsed times between the point at which each fish became unconscious and the points at which it resumed normal behavioral functions. We also investigated injuries such as broken spinal columns and hematomas after the fish were filleted. The threshold electric field strength required to stun all of the fish to unconsciousness was 33 V/m for 1 s. The duration of the unconscious condition increased as both electric field strength and current duration increased. Of a total of 260 Atlantic herring, 60% had broken spinal columns. The proportion of fish with fractured spines was independent of field strength and duration, but the number of fractures per fish increased with field strength. We conclude that electrical stunning would promote the welfare of Atlantic herring that are landed alive but negatively affect fillet quality owing to hematomas associated with the fractures.

中文翻译：

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不同电场强度和电流持续时间对大西洋鲱鱼致昏和脊髓损伤的影响

本研究的目的是评估电场强度和电流持续时间对在海水中被正弦 50 赫兹交流电击晕的野生大西洋鲱鱼 Clupea harengus 的影响。将鱼暴露在 16 至 142 V/m 的电场强度和 1 至 12 秒的电流持续时间中。我们记录了每条鱼失去意识和恢复正常行为功能之间的时间。我们还调查了鱼被切片后脊柱断裂和血肿等伤害。使所有鱼昏迷至失去知觉所需的阈值电场强度为 33 V/m，持续 1 秒。无意识状态的持续时间随着电场强度和电流持续时间的增加而增加。在总共 260 条大西洋鲱鱼中，60% 的脊柱骨折。断刺鱼的比例与场强和持续时间无关，但每条鱼的骨折数随场强而增加。我们得出的结论是，电击晕会促进活上岸的大西洋鲱鱼的福利，但会由于与骨折相关的血肿而对鱼片质量产生负面影响。