28/04/2015: VAKI Riverwatcher optical counter praised by Scottish Natural Heritage

According to research carried out by Scottish Natural Heritage, optical counters such as the VAKI Riverwatcher suffer less than current resistivity counters from false counts, as an outline of the object responsible is recorded for the operator to verify. A camera add-on can also reduce the possibility of false counts.

   

The report also states that since optical counters can estimate the size of each fish with a reasonable degree of accuracy, they are more reliable than resistivity counters for distinguishing between Atlantic salmon and Sea trout.

Tests conducted by the Icelandic Institute of Freshwater Fisheries on the River Blanda found the VAKI Riverwatcher Counter to be 98.9 percent accurate, whilst a more recent time-lapse video validation study on the Itchen in England found the counter to be 93 percent accurate in counting fish. Furthermore, when debris, turbidity and air bubble entrainment were kept to a minimum the accuracy increased to 100 percent.

 
Visit the VAKI site HERE.

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