St Andrews, Scotland – GenusWave, a leader in marine mammal deterrent technology, has been announced as a finalist for the Responsible Seafood Innovation Award in the Fisheries category by the Global Seafood Alliance. This prestigious recognition highlights the revolutionary Targeted Acoustic Startle Technology (TAST) developed in collaboration with the University of St Andrews. TAST offers a groundbreaking solution to reduce interactions between marine mammals and human activities.
TAST utilizes short bursts of sound to trigger a startle reflex in specific marine mammal species, effectively deterring them from fishing and aquaculture operations (Götz & Janik (2015; 2016)). This innovative technology addresses long-standing challenges in the industry, including reducing bycatch and marine mammal interactions, increasing catch rates and fishing time, and minimizing noise pollution compared to traditional acoustic deterrents. TAST also has the unique capability of targeting specific species, minimizing the impact on non-target marine life.
Field tests have demonstrated the remarkable effectiveness of TAST in various settings. In Scotland, TAST has shown a 91-97% reduction in seal predation on salmon farms without impacting non-target species such as harbor porpoises (Götz & Janik (2015)). In the UK, there has been a 97% decrease in losses to grey seals during mackerel fishing operations and a 74% increase in catch due to reduced seal disruptions (MMO (2020), Whyte et al. (2021)). Furthermore, in Norway, TAST has resulted in a 92% reduction in orca activity around a herring purse seine fishery (Langstein (2023)). TAST has also been proven to be consistently effective without causing habituation in target species (Götz & Janik (2016)).
Industry professionals who have witnessed TAST’s impressive results are optimistic about its potential. Suzannah Walmsley, an Associate at ABPmer, shared her experience with the technology: “Interactions between seals and fisheries harm fishers’ ability to earn a livelihood, as well as affecting individual seals; the GenusWave TAST offers real promise for helping to reduce such interactions. Having tested TAST in an inshore mackerel gillnet fishery and inshore line fishery we have seen positive effects, with reductions in depredation by seals.”
Sam Cox, a senior postdoctoral researcher at the University College Cork, emphasized the benefits of TAST’s target specificity: “TAST technology is particularly interesting for our application as our fishery operates in an area frequented by many cetacean species, and minimizing disturbance to non-target species of high priority. TAST aims to achieve this by using short exposure times coupled to a targeted frequency band. Initial results from our trials show no difference in cetacean presence (common dolphins) around control and test nets. We look forward to continuing our work with GenusWave in the future.”
Kim Raum-Suryan, a Marine Mammal Specialist in the Protected Resources Division (Alaska Region) of the National Marine Fisheries Service, and Lauri Jemison, a Wildlife Biologist with the Gulf and Bering Marine Mammal Program of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, spoke about the benefits of TAST for United States fisheries: “We are very optimistic about the potential for TAST to reduce sea lion – fishery interactions, preserving fishermen’s catch and gear without causing injury to sea lions. The scientists from the University of St. Andrews have been exceptional to work with.”
As a finalist for the Responsible Seafood Innovation Award, GenusWave and researchers from the University of St Andrews will present at the Responsible Seafood Summit on October 22 in Scotland. This platform will showcase TAST’s potential to revolutionize responsible seafood production practices and mitigate marine mammal conflicts globally.
Kylie DaCunha, Director of Special Projects at GenusWave, highlighted the technology’s versatility: “Our collaborators are successfully using TAST to mitigate interactions with various marine mammals across multiple applications. Together we’ve protected aquaculture facilities from seals in Scotland and Norway; reduced seal, orca, and sea lion interactions with fisheries in the UK, Ireland, Norway, and the US; and are helping to conserve endangered salmon populations from pinniped over-predation in North America.”
She continued about the company’s mission and vision: “At GenusWave, we take pride in being at the forefront of technology-driven solutions that truly make a difference. We believe that even a small technology company can have a global impact, and we’re committed to providing practical solutions that strike a balance between industry needs and the health of our natural world. TAST is a scalable, practical solution that fosters healthier ecosystems and improves operational outcomes. Together, we can create a world where innovation drives a more sustainable future.”
GenusWave’s innovative approach not only aids in enhancing the efficiency of fishing and aquaculture
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