Next best thing to fishing? Watching the LSSU fishcamPosted: May 17th, 2005
September 21, 2005
TEAM FISHCAM – Staff from Lake Superior State University Aquatic Lab and Lighthouse.net pose with a new camera before it gets lowered into the water in front of Edison Sault Electric’s hydro plant. Lighthouse.net and its parent company, Cloverland Electric Cooperative, provide the computer server for the fishcam as well as a connection to the Internet through Lightwave, a wireless broadband system offered through Lighthouse.net. Pictured from left are Lighthouse.net Technician Rich Walker, Lab Manager Roger Greil, Lab Co-Director Ashley Moerke, and Lighthouse.net General Manager Steve Mason. (Photo by John Shibley)
Editor's Note: This story was written in September 2005.
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – An underwater webcam at Lake Superior State University’s Aquatic Research Laboratory is proving to be popular among St. Mary’s River anglers and those who wish they could be on the river at any given moment.
Since Lighthouse.net installed the Internet connection to the underwater camera this month, hits on the aquatic lab’s web page through the LSSU site (www.lssu.edu) have increased exponentially. During the camera’s first week of operation, between 3,000 and 5,000 web-surfers daily were looking at salmon, whitefish, sea lampreys and even the occasional cormorant on their computer screens.
“The webcam enables viewers from all over the world to access real-time images of the river,” said Ashley Moerke, assistant professor of biology at LSSU and co-director of the lab. “Eventually, we are hoping to provide educational information on the different species viewers might see, as well as their ecology. We hope it will be visited by classrooms, sportsmen, naturalists and many others.”
“The camera is really slick,” said Roger Greil, lab manager. “We get a lot of calls from out-of-town fishermen who are wondering if the salmon have come into the river. Now, if they have an Internet connection, they’ll be able to see it for themselves.”
The camera is mounted behind the aquatic lab, which is housed in the east end of the Edison Sault Electric Company power plant. Lighthouse.net and its parent company, Cloverland Electric Cooperative, are providing the Motorola Canopy wireless equipment for the fishcam as well as a connection to the Internet through Lightwave, the wireless broadband system offered through Lighthouse.net.
“We are pleased to be able to assist the University and aquatic research lab with this project,” said Steve Mason, Lighthouse.net general manager. “As a local company, we recognize that the University and students are an integral part of our local economy and a valuable asset to the community.”
“This is a great example of how the University and the community, specifically Edison Sault, Lighthouse.net and Cloverland Electric, can collaborate to highlight the natural resources of the Eastern U.P.,” said Moerke. “Something as unique as an underwater camera will definitely connect LSSU, the lab and the Sault with many people who had never heard of us before.”
The camera is live during the daylight hours. At night, when the fish would not be visible, the lab plays an eight-hour videotape of the day’s activity. The tape can be found at the same Internet link. Greil said videotapes would be provided to the public, especially educational or professional interests, if the request were accompanied by a blank tape and a return address.
To see what’s going on underwater behind the LSSU Aquatic Research Laboratory, visit www.lssu.edu/arl. For more information about academic programs associated with the lab, contact LSSU Admissions at 906-635-2231 or admissions@lssu.edu. –LSSU-
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