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AI to Guard Scottish Salmon from Seals

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.
AI to Guard Scottish Salmon from Seals

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.

Disclaimer: This story has been auto-aggregated and auto-summarised by a computer program. This story has not been edited or created by the Feedzop team.
AI will power underwater speakers to emit sounds that deter seals from salmon feeding areas.
SMRU is testing AI-driven underwater speakers to protect wild salmon from seal predation on the River Dee.
Declining salmon numbers are due to multiple factors including seal predation, rising temperatures, and water quality issues.

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