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ndividuals are created different with different personalities which make them develop interests and pursue dissimilar hobbies. Some people also gain interest in other people’s avocations and do all it takes to learn with an intention of emerging experts at such. With the constant technological advancements, learning such hobbies has been a lot easier as compared to the ancient time when people entirely relied on traditional forms of learning and acquiring avocational skills. For instance, fishing is a hobby that many people from all parts of the world not only find interesting or challenging but are also engaged in for some extent of economic gain. Scientists have helped out in coming up with devices like an electronic fish finder that helps in locating fish and making the fishing sports a bit interesting. There are numerous concerns regarding this sport, most of which question the ethical nature using the device and whether it has any beneficial or detrimental effects and poses any unfair advantage. This paper is determined to make the audience understand the electronic fish finder in detail.

Title Graphic Source: me

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Learning about the Electric Fish Finder

The electronic fish finder is a sports fishing device that was developed in the verge of technology to assist people in the fishing industry in locating fish. At the same time, the device was developed to make fishing easier than it used to be when done the traditional way since school of fish already developed avoidance mechanisms and different migratory patterns that made the sporting activity much more stressful (Vatnehol et al. 1803). The electronic fish finder uses state of the art technologies such as GPS and SONAR to detect schools of fish. SONAR means Sound Navigation and Ranging (Mehnazd par 1). They also detect the migration patterns of fish as it maps schooling fish closer to the water surface. Moreover, this device not only discover and evaluate the reaction of fish towards avoidance but also their abundance and sizes in their distinct schools.

The electronic fish finder combines different techniques and applies them in order to bring precision and accuracy regarding location of schools of fish. The fish sonars have multi-frequencies domains of echo sounder system that ultimately provide coverage (Vatnehol et al. 1804).

Figure 1: The Lowrance Structure Scan 3D

Source: West Marine

The applied data-processing methods entail the use of image processing approach which connects the neighboring pixels which surpass a given level of threshold. The sonars have systems that make real time transmission on video screens after capturing and registering echoes of Bluefin tuna school. Apparently, the device is dedicated to search for fish accretions or groups in the given range. Before the invention of the elect electronic fish finder, individuals with interests in fishing faced the avocation traditionally without any clues of where schools of fish could be in abundance. This situation made the hobby less more interesting.

Located in the United States of America, Lowrance Marine & Fishing Electronics has existed for over 50 years and is concerned with the manufacture of marine electronics. The company has its headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S. and constantly comes up with innovative products that are essential for both recreational and commercial activities. Again, the company is dedicated to manufacture consumer sonar and GPS receivers together with other essential systems for digital mapping. The company has its marketing department which reaches out to various consumers in the fishing market, be it individual fishermen or different companies who does commercial fishing both in freshwater lakes and in the coastal regions.

Positive Effect of the Fish Finder

A number of benefits surround the use of Lowrance StructureScan 3D Module & Transducer that the company manufactures. In the first place, the end users not only find the 3D fish finder useful because of the GPS system which shows the precise location of the boat they are using but also the fish in different terrains of water. Individuals are able to use the device and locate the fish in spawning time. The fact that people are able to use the device in all weather patterns creates a favorable advantage to people who value fishing and pursue it as an avocation (The GPS Store par 2). This means that they can go fishing regardless of the weather, including under ice fishing, snow, when it is raining or in fast flowing rivers.

Figure 2: The Photographic Representation of a Deeper Smart Sonar Pro +

Source: Deeper Smart Sonar Pro +

Moreover, the fish finder is a device that helps the fishermen to examine the speed of the boat they are using. It is also worth noting that the device is not only meant for commercial purposes but also for individual use. The device comes with a variety of power voltages where the customers consider the right voltage depending on the places they intent to go fishing. Individuals interested in fishing in the deep and salty water surfaces go for the fish finders with high peak watt. The other advantage of this device is that is has trackback ability which makes tracing movement of the boat an easier task (The GPS Store par 2). The fishermen are able to track their movements from time to time.

“Fish finders gives the fisherman the options of viewing the depth, aqua structure, and fish hiding locations, speed and also depth temperature”

(The GPS Store)

Figure 3: Example of patterns generated in sonar

Source: ICES Journal of Marine Science

Negative Effect of the Fish Finder

However, the device also have questionable aspects that ultimately pose a raft of negative features. Ballanti (par 16) has identified a limitation to detect fish using the fish finder concerning the complexity of their coverage. The noise that comes from other sources like the flow of water, rain, boat motors creates a great deal of interference with the detection of fish. Again, the device encourages unethical behaviors among individuals who engaging in fishing as a sporting activity. For example, the device is able to allocate fish regardless of the prevailing situations. As such, individuals may locate endangered fish species and participate in illegal fishing. At the same time, the use of the electronic device may pose detrimental effects to the endangered fish species. This is unethical behavior which is not only inconsiderate to the environment but also to the fish species which are meant to be preserved for their continuity of existence.

Personal Reactions

The fact that the electronic device has the ability to locate schools of fish in their scarcity poses an immense threat to their survival. Their remoteness is also compromised hence making them vulnerable to any illegal activities that the fishermen may undertake. It is worth noting that the device creates an unfair competitive advantage to competitors given that sports fishing competitors who fail to deploy the electronic device do not stand a chance against those who do. In essence, the device utilizes sonar tracking and geo-location software such as GPS and GLONASS to accurately determine the precise location of schools of fish, thus giving users an unfair competitive advantage.

The unfair competitive advantage springs up in dissimilar forms in the fishing sporting activity. For instance, individuals who are unable to possess the device go fishing without any clue of a precise location of the schools of fish. On the other hand, individuals who have the device will go straight to where fish is found in plenty and fish as they please. This is the same case even for the companies that undertaking fishing for commercial purposes. From an analytical point of view, it is clear that the device does not defeat its original purpose. This is mainly because the device helps save time in sports fishing, consistent with its intended purpose.

As much as there are several concerns regarding the electronic fish finder, it is hard overlooking the technological advancements which makes this kind of sporting activity an easier task. Individuals who value fishing and pursue it as an avocational activity need to use the device and experience it convenience, reliability and efficacy. The device has a lot of beneficial aspects that easily override the detrimental effects (McInnes et al. 3). Nevertheless, it is advisable for the fishermen to observe ethical behavior while fishing and not to overfish or capture the endangered fish species.

On a Final Note

The paper above has given the details surrounding the electronic fish finder that is used for avocational purpose. Technological advancement has availed an easier means of locating the exact location of schools of fish using GPS and Sonar to detect schools of fish. The device serves its intended purpose of making the sporting activity much easier than the traditional way of fishing. Some benefits of the device include the precision of locating fish and tacking ability while the detrimental aspects encompass locating even the endangered species of fish and provision of unfair competitive advantage. The device therefore helps save time in sports fishing, consistent with its intended purpose.

Works Cited

Ballanti, Ron. "Finding Fish." Anglers Journal, 8 Apr, 2019. https://www.anglersjournal.com/boats-gear/finding-fish-a-guide-for-choosing-the-right-transducer. Accessed 13 Mar, 2020.

Deeper Smart Sonar Pro +. Fishing Sun, 2017, Photograph, https://fishingsun.com/review-10-best-fish-finders/#Deeper_Smart_Sonar_Pro. Accessed 13 Mar, 2020.

Mehnazd. "What Is A Fishfinder And How Does It Work?" Marine Insight, 18 Oct, 2019, https://www.marineinsight.com/marine-navigation/what-is-a-fishfinder-and-how-does-it-work/. Accessed 13 Mar, 2020.

me. "Miami Beach." 2020. JPEG file.

The GPS Store. "The Advantages Of Fishfinders." Thegpsstore.Com, 2020, https://www.thegpsstore.com/The-Advantages-of-Fishfinders.aspx. Accessed 13 Mar, 2020.

Vatnehol, Sindre et al. "A Method To Automatically Detect Fish Aggregations Using Horizontally Scanning Sonar." ICES Journal Of Marine Science, vol 75, no. 5, 2018, pp. 1803-1812. Oxford University Press (OUP), doi:10.1093/icesjms/fsy029. Accessed 13 Mar, 2020.

West Marine. “The Lowrance StructureScan 3D creates a high-resolution, 180-degree, three-dimensional view beneath your boat.” West Marine, 5 July. 2019, Graph, https://www.westmarine.com/WestAdvisor/Selecting-a-Fishfinder. Accessed 13 Mar, 2020.

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