If you ’ve been on the net at any point in the past workweek , you ’ve for certain come across footage of wildlife conservationistsstuffingsalmon into a giant plastic tube and shuttling them over obstacles . It ’s so off-the-wall — even by the already loose standard of the WWW — that it briefly ignited discussions over fish welfare , its purpose , and the seemingdesireof people to be similarly transported through a pneumatic tunnel into a new life .
Naturally , the “ salmon cannon ” has a mission beyond disport the internet . The system was created by Whooshh Innovations , a troupe that basically adopted the same sort of transferral system featuring pressurized tubing that ’s used in banking . Initially , the organization was intend to transport fruit over long distances without offend . At some point , technologist figured they could do the same for Pisces the Fishes .
The fish payload is secured at the entrance of the tube — satisfactory mintage can matter up to 34 pounds — and moves through a fluent , piano plastic thermionic valve that conforms to their body shape . Air pressure behind them keeps them moving . The Pisces are jettisoned between 16 and 26 feet per second to a new location , where they come out comparatively unscathed . Because there ’s no need for a weewee column , the tube can cover most terrain at near any tiptop .
The tubing resolution is a human resolution to a human problem : dekametre . With fish mostly bound to still body of water thanks to dams and facing obstacles swim upstream to migrate and spawn , fishneedsome form of aid . In the past times , “ fish ladder ” have assist Pisces move upstream by providing ascending steps they can flop on , but not all Pisces can navigate such terrain . Another arrangement , pin and cart fish like cargo , resultant in disoriented fish who can even block how to drown . The Whooshh arrangement , which has been in used in Washington state for at least five years , allow for expedient fish export with an injury rate as little as 3 per centum , although study termination have varied .
The video have manual insertion of the Pisces the Fishes . In the wild , Whooshh count on Pisces the Fishes making semi - voluntary entries into the tubing . Once they drown into an enclosure , they ’re peculiar enough about the thermionic valve to go inside .
If all goes well , the arrangement couldhelpsalmon be reintroduce to the Upper Columbia River in Washington , where the population has been depleted by decametre . Testing of the machine there is wait blessing from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers .
[ h / tPopular Mechanics ]
