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AI to Guard Scottish Salmon from Seals
23 Nov
Summary
- AI-powered underwater speakers will deter seals from salmon feeding grounds.
- £160,000 funding secured for prototype device on the River Dee.
- Declining salmon numbers attributed to seals, climate, and pollution.

Underwater speakers are being developed to protect endangered wild salmon in Scottish rivers. These devices will emit unpleasant noises to deter seals, which are contributing to a worrying decline in salmon numbers.
A research team is advancing this technology by integrating artificial intelligence to monitor sonar and activate the speakers only when seals are detected. This aims to safeguard salmon in crucial feeding zones where their numbers have critically diminished.
The Sea Mammal Research Unit has received £160,000 to trial a prototype on the River Dee. If successful, this automated system could be deployed in other rivers, offering a potential solution to predation pressures exacerbated by climate change and other environmental factors.


