GenusWave, a pioneer in marine mammal deterrent technology, has been named a finalist for the Responsible Seafood Innovation Award in the Fisheries category by the Global Seafood Alliance. The company’s innovative Targeted Acoustic Startle Technology (TAST), developed in collaboration with the University of St Andrews, has gained recognition for its potential to revolutionize responsible seafood production practices and mitigate marine mammal conflicts globally.
GenusWave’s TAST utilizes short bursts of sound to trigger a startle reflex in specific marine mammal species, effectively keeping them away from fishing and aquaculture operations. This technology offers a revolutionary approach to addressing longstanding challenges in the industry, including reducing bycatch and marine mammal interactions, increasing catch rates and fishing time, decreasing fish mortalities and predator induced stress in aquaculture operations, and significantly decreasing noise pollution compared to traditional acoustic deterrents. Additionally, TAST’s species-specific targeting minimizes the impact on non-target marine life.
Field tests have demonstrated the remarkable effectiveness of TAST, with seal predation reduced by 91-97% on salmon farms in Scotland and a 97% decrease in losses to grey seals during mackerel fishing operations in the UK. Up to a 94% reduction in predation events by Steller sea lions on a salmon troll fishery in Alaska has also been observed. TAST has consistently shown effectiveness without habituation by target species.
Those who have seen these results first hand are excited about the possibilities that TAST offers. Suzannah Walmsley, an Associate at ABPmer, described 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.”
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. Initial results from our trials show no difference in cetacean presence (common dolphins) around control and test nets.”
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.”
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 helping to build a world where businesses don’t have to choose between profit and purpose.”
GenusWave’s innovative approach not only aids in enhancing the efficiency of fishing and aquaculture operations but also contributes significantly to marine conservation efforts, aligning with global initiatives for sustainable and responsible seafood production. Moving forward, GenusWave is strengthening its conservation efforts and seeking out creative solutions to better protect our essential ecosystems while balancing the demands of critical industrial activities.
For more information about GenusWave and TAST, please visit genuswave.com or contact Kylie DaCunha at kdacunha@genuswave.com.
About: GenusWave is a science-based company dedicated to developing technologies that prevent human-wildlife conflict. Their main focus, Targeted Acoustic Startle Technology (TAST), deters marine mammals from human activities, ensuring their safety and minimizing disruption. TAST operates on the autonomous auditory startle reflex, triggering avoidance responses without causing harm. The company’s research, documented in peer-reviewed literature, continues to explore future applications to benefit both people and wildlife.
TAST was developed at the University of St. Andrews’ Scottish Oceans Institute, a globally renowned
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