In an innovative bid to safeguard Scotland's critically endangered wild salmon, scientists are preparing to deploy artificial intelligence and underwater speakers in the nation's rivers. The groundbreaking project aims to deter seals, significant predators of the fish, by emitting noises the marine mammals find unpleasant.
The Race to Save Atlantic Salmon
Salmon stocks have experienced a worrying decline in many Scottish rivers, with threats including rising water temperatures, physical barriers like dams, and predation. Lawrence Ross, chair of the Dee District Salmon Fishery Board (DDSFB), starkly warned, "We are in a race against time to save our Atlantic salmon". He highlighted that both grey and harbour seals are now regularly entering rivers and consuming the fish in significant numbers.
The Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) at the University of St Andrews has secured £160,000 in funding to test a new, automated prototype. This device represents a major step forward from previous, manually operated technology.
How the AI Deterrent System Works
The new system combines several advanced technologies. It uses artificial intelligence to constantly monitor sonar readings in the river. When the machine learning algorithms detect the presence of salmon-hunting seals, they automatically trigger underwater speakers mounted within a protective tube.
This addresses a key weakness of past methods. Fishery protection officers had previously used jet skis to tow acoustic devices through the water, but the DDSFB stated this proved "ineffective", not least because seals were thought to return once the officers had left. The new AI-operated system will run 24 hours a day, providing a constant deterrent.
Testing on the River Dee and Future Prospects
The prototype will be trialled on an 80-mile section of the River Dee in Aberdeenshire. This location was chosen following a promising initial trial of similar, manually operated equipment on the smaller River Esk.
Dr Alan Wells, chief executive of Fisheries Management Scotland, confirmed the project's importance, stating, "Seal predation is an important pressure in several Scottish rivers and we look forward to hearing the results of this partnership project." Other fisheries managers are reportedly watching the initiative with great interest.
If the trial on the Dee is successful, the AI-powered acoustic deterrent devices could be deployed in other rivers across Scotland that are home to the critically endangered wild salmon, offering a high-tech solution to a pressing conservation challenge.
