PESCA was designed by UAF Mechanical Engineering undergraduates. We conducted pilot studies in the lab and field to verify sediment and eDNA collection.

PESCA is designed to be deployed for any desired period of time and align with water currents in marine environments, or be positioned statically to effectively sample flowing water in rivers and streams. PESCA enables the ability to sample overnight, over a tidal cycle, and in remote field environments. PESCA eliminates the need to manually pump water, which can be time consuming and require electricity, battery packs, etc.

The sediment cap feature allows for the comparison of sedimental DNA and aquatic DNA in environments with high sediment loads (e.g., sand, glacial silt, mud).

PESCA is 3D printed, resulting in affordable pricing. The devices can be sanitized in a bleach solution in-between deployments and reused.

PESCA can handle any traditional eDNA filter type (e.g., nitrocellulose, glass fiber) up to 47mm in diameter. It can also be accommodated with sterile gauze for additional cost savings.

You can now purchase PESCA through the UAF Makerspace online shop!

If you have questions about experimental design and using PESCA, click on the “Schedule a Consultation” button to set up a meeting with Jessica.