GenusWave, a leader in human-wildlife conflict mitigation technology, has been recognized for its innovative Targeted Acoustic Startle Technology (TAST) with the prestigious Responsible Seafood Innovation Award in the Fisheries category by the Global Seafood Alliance. The award was presented at the Responsible Seafood Summit on October 22, 2024, in recognition of the company’s commitment to sustainable seafood production practices.
TAST utilizes brief acoustic signals to trigger a startle reflex in specific marine mammal taxon, effectively keeping them away from conflicts with human objectives. This technology has been extensively researched over the years and has been documented in eight key peer-reviewed studies. TAST addresses longstanding challenges in the seafood industry, including reduction of bycatch and marine mammal interactions, increased catch rates and fishing time, decreased fish mortalities and predator induced stress in aquaculture operations, and significantly decreased noise pollution compared to traditional acoustic deterrents.
The effectiveness of TAST has been demonstrated in field tests, with results showing a 91-97% reduction in seal predation on salmon farms in Scotland, a 97% decrease in losses to grey seals during mackerel fishing operations in the UK, and a 74% increase in catch due to reduced seal disruptions. In addition, TAST has led to a 94% reduction in predation events by Steller sea lions on a salmon troll fishery in Alaska, a 92% reduction in orca activity around a herring purse seine fishery in Norway, and a 43.8% reduction in the overall foraging success of individual seals predating on salmon in Washington State, USA. Furthermore, TAST has been proven to be consistently effective without causing habituation by target species.
Those within the industry who have experienced the benefits of TAST are excited about its potential. David Whyte, Former Chair of the Rosehearty Harbour and Inshore Fisherman’s Association (RHIFA), emphasized the necessity of this technology for the future of the industry. He stated, “Seal interference and predation, within our summer mackerel fishery, is increasing year on year and is now at a level where it is hampering fishing efforts to such a scale that a number of skippers no longer participate in the fishery, or are seriously considering withdrawing.” Whyte also expressed hope that TAST could make a significant difference in their fishery without harming marine life.
Suzannah Walmsley, an Associate at ABPmer, shared her positive experience with the technology, stating, “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, highlighted the benefits of TAST’s target specificity, stating, “TAST technology is particularly interesting for our application as our fishery operates in an area frequented by many cetacean species, and minimising disturbance to non-target species of high priority.”
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, also spoke about the benefits of TAST for United States fisheries. They stated, “Our testing included a new prototype developed by GenusWave designed to be deployed from salmon fishing boats. Our results are preliminary, but so far we’ve found that our tests resulted in a localized movement by Steller sea lions away from our boat during TAST sound exposure.”
Kylie DaCunha, Director of Special Projects at GenusWave, expressed the company’s excitement about winning the Responsible Seafood Innovation Award and its commitment to sustainable seafood production. DaCunha stated, “Winning this award underscores our commitment to developing technology that not only enhances operational efficiency but also promotes marine conservation. This recognition is not just a win for our team, but a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone aligned with our mission to advance sustainable seafood production practices.”
GenusWave’s mission is to create practical solutions that balance industry needs with environmental health. The company’s technology is designed to foster healthier ecosystems while improving operational outcomes. As the company continues to expand its partnerships globally, it will further mitigate harmful marine mammal interactions.
For more information about GenusWave and its award-winning technology, visit genuswave.com or contact Kylie DaCunha at kdacunha@genuswave.com.
About: GenusWave is a science-based company dedicated to designing and implementing technologies that prevent human-wildlife conflict. The company
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