Fish response to seal acoustic deterrent devices: are exploited fishes (perch, Perca fluviatilis, and pikeperch, Sander lucioperca) really not affected by the noise emitted?

Julkinen hankekuvaus

To reduce the damages caused by seals populations in the Baltic sea, acoustic deterrent devices (ADD) have started to be used in coastal fisheries. As the frequency of the sound emitted exceeds what the majority of salmonids could hear, most exploited fish have been expected to not be disturbed by the sound. However, some fish species, with different anatomy and hearing capacities such as perch and pikeperch, might be more sensitive. The noise emitted could disrupt their exploratory and shoaling behaviour, as well as induce physiological stress. All these effects could ultimately reduce the well-being of the populations over generations, with repercussions on the productivity of the fisheries. We thus need to better understand these ADD noise effects, and if the fish can overcome these effects with time, to assess not only the potential resilience of the fish species in their environment but also the sustainability of fishing practices.