This study estimated the source signal level of four models of acoustic pingers: yellow Fisktek (BP-FR), red Fishtek (BP-FR High Power), white Future Oceans Netguard, and red Future Oceans Netshield. Fishtek pingers produced "chirp"-like signals spanning ~50-150 kHZ. Future Oceans pingers produced more stable frequency signals with a stronger harmonic content extending to 200 kHZ. The dominant one-third octave band for all tested pingers was 63 kHZ, which aligns well with harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) heating sensitivity. Detection ranges using a hydrophone were highly dependent on environmental conditions and receiver placement, particularly hydrophone depth. Realistic detection distances ranged from several hundred meters to several kilometers.
Year
Journal/Publisher Name
Baltic-Nordic Acoustics Meeting, 4-6 May 2026, Gothenburg, Sweden
Contact information
FOI Swedish Defence Research Agency, SE-16440 Kista, Sweden. frida.thorn@foi.se, christophe.mattei@foi.se, mathias.andersson@foi.se
Summary
Field Studies
Detection range of harbour porpoise pingers by a hydrophone in Swedish waters
Study Type
Study in the lab
Location
N/A
Target catch
N/A
Effect on bycatch species
N/A
Effect on target catch
N/A
Bycatch species
Reduction technique