Cetacean Bycatch Resource Center

Pingers

Warning cetaceans away from the nets

Dolphins, porpoises and whales are known for their ability to orient themselves using echolocation and a keen sense of hearing. Yet many thousands of these animals become entangled in fishing nets every year.

One approach to preventing cetaceans from being caught is to mark fishing nets with beacons that emit warning sounds every few seconds to alert nearby animals. These acoustic alarms are called "pingers."

About Pingers

Effectiveness: Do pingers work?

Pingers by Species, Fishery and Region
Side Effects On Fish Catch
Seals, Sea Lions and Pingers

Mechanism: How do they work?

Talking to Dolphins
Designing a Pinger
Examples of Pingers

Concerns about Pingers

Habitat Exclusion
Long-Term Effectiveness
Not for Endangered Species

Resources

Prepared for the Cetacean Bycatch Resource Center in May 2004 by Margot Stiles. Thanks to Dr. Jay Barlow for reviewing this report.

Overview

Acoustic alarms, known as pingers, have been applied to a number of gillnet and driftnet fisheries. Some species avoid nets with pingers, including harbor porpoise (Kraus et al. 1997) and short-beaked common dolphin (Barlow and Cameron 2003), and can help reduce bycatch in gillnets.

Scientists are currently testing their effectiveness under different conditions and for specific fisheries. Commercially produced pingers are available, and the development of increasingly specialized and durable versions continues.

However, acoustic alarms may not be equally effective for other species and it is possible that cetaceans become desensitized to the warning sounds over time. Additional concerns remain that the universal application of pingers to gillnets and aquaculture pens could exclude cetaceans from coastal habitat (Carlstrom 2003, Culik et al. 2001, Johnston 2002).

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		Pingers Warning cetaceans away from the nets Dolphins, porpoises and whales are known for their ability to orient themselves using echolocation and a keen sense of hearing. Yet many thousands of these animals become entangled in fishing nets every year. One approach to preventing cetaceans from being caught is to mark fishing nets with beacons that emit warning sounds every few seconds to alert nearby animals. These acoustic alarms are called "pingers." About Pingers Effectiveness: Do pingers work? Pingers by Species, Fishery and Region Side Effects On Fish Catch Seals, Sea Lions and Pingers Mechanism: How do they work? Talking to Dolphins Designing a Pinger Examples of Pingers Concerns about Pingers Habitat Exclusion Long-Term Effectiveness Not for Endangered Species Resources Prepared for the Cetacean Bycatch Resource Center in May 2004 by Margot Stiles. Thanks to Dr. Jay Barlow for reviewing this report. Overview Acoustic alarms, known as pingers, have been applied to a number of gillnet and driftnet fisheries. Some species avoid nets with pingers, including harbor porpoise (Kraus et al. 1997) and short-beaked common dolphin (Barlow and Cameron 2003), and can help reduce bycatch in gillnets. Scientists are currently testing their effectiveness under different conditions and for specific fisheries. Commercially produced pingers are available, and the development of increasingly specialized and durable versions continues. However, acoustic alarms may not be equally effective for other species and it is possible that cetaceans become desensitized to the warning sounds over time. Additional concerns remain that the universal application of pingers to gillnets and aquaculture pens could exclude cetaceans from coastal habitat (Carlstrom 2003, Culik et al. 2001, Johnston 2002).

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