email editor
The results of acoustic seal deterrent trials has been published.
The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has published the findings of acoustic seal deterrent trials undertaken in an inshore gill net fishery.
In recent times fishermen have said that interactions between seals and fisheries have become an increasing problem in recent years, with seals taking catches out of nets and damaging gear.
Over ninety fishermen responded to a survey about their experiences with seals, and a review of available deterrents found that there were limited commercially-available non-lethal options for use in fisheries.
Trials were carried out using a prototype of the targeted acoustic startle device (ASD) developed by Genuswave, which triggers a startle response that causes a seal to move away from the sound. It operates at a much lower sound dose (volume and duration) than other acoustic deterrents and a frequency range where seals’ hearing is more sensitive than other species. The ASD has no adverse impact on marine mammals such as dolphins and porpoises, and should be more effective in the long-term at deterring seals compared with other deterrent devices.
Two inshore vessels (one from Torquay and the other from Brixham) were involved in the trials, each deploying two nets at a time — one net fishing as normal (the ‘control’), and one net with one or more ASDs deployed nearby (the ‘test’ net). Catches from each net were recorded, as well as the number of damaged fish in each net.
The trials found that:
– The ASD increased the catch by an average of 74% compared to the net without the ASD; and
– Due to technical difficulties deploying the prototype ASD at sea, there was a high variability in catches and the effectiveness of the ASD, with the modelled increase in catch ranging from 5% to 189%.
Suzannah Walmsley, the project manager from ABPmer, said ‘although the trials experienced technical difficulties with deploying the prototype ASD at sea, overall the results show promise for it to be an effective seal deterrent. This has already led the ASD developer to make the units more robust and to explore alternative ways of deploying the devices at sea. Additional work and testing is needed in other locations and fisheries before conclusive results can be drawn.’ The project was funded through the European Maritime Fisheries Fund and implemented by ABPmer in collaboration with the NFFO and the trials benefited from support from the fishermen and the Devon & Severn IFCA.
To read the report on GOV.UK, click here.
Source: NFFO
