Behavioural Responses of Common Dolphins Delphinus delphis to a Bio-Inspired Acoustic Device for Limiting Fishery By-Catch

Loïc Lehnhoff (), Hervé Glotin, Serge Bernard, Willy Dabin, Yves Le Gall, Eric Menut, Eleonore Meheust, Hélène Peltier, Alain Pochat, Krystel Pochat, Thomas Rimaud, Quiterie Sourget, Jérôme Spitz, Olivier Van Canneyt and Bastien Mérigot
Additional contact information
Loïc Lehnhoff: UMR Marine Biodiversity, Exploitation and Conservation (MARBEC), CNRS, Université Montpellier, IFREMER, IRD, Avenue Jean Monnet, 34203 Sète, France
Hervé Glotin: UMR Laboratory of Computer Science and Systems (LIS), Campus de La Garde, Université Toulon, Université Aix Marseille, CNRS, DYNI, 83041 Toulon, France
Serge Bernard: UMR Laboratory of Computer Science, Robotics, and Microelectronics (LIRMM), Université Montpellier, CNRS, 34095 Montpellier, France
Willy Dabin: Observatoire Pelagis (UAR 3462), La Rochelle Université, CNRS, 17000 La Rochelle, France
Yves Le Gall: French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea (IFREMER), Centre Bretagne, 29280 Plouzané, France
Eric Menut: French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea (IFREMER), Centre Bretagne, 29280 Plouzané, France
Eleonore Meheust: Observatoire Pelagis (UAR 3462), La Rochelle Université, CNRS, 17000 La Rochelle, France
Hélène Peltier: Observatoire Pelagis (UAR 3462), La Rochelle Université, CNRS, 17000 La Rochelle, France
Alain Pochat: SAS Ocean Technology (OCTECH), 29120 Pont l’Abbé, France
Krystel Pochat: SAS Ocean Technology (OCTECH), 29120 Pont l’Abbé, France
Thomas Rimaud: Les Pêcheurs de Bretagne, 56100 Lorient, France
Quiterie Sourget: Association du Grand Littoral Atlantique, 56100 Lorient, France
Jérôme Spitz: Observatoire Pelagis (UAR 3462), La Rochelle Université, CNRS, 17000 La Rochelle, France
Olivier Van Canneyt: Observatoire Pelagis (UAR 3462), La Rochelle Université, CNRS, 17000 La Rochelle, France
Bastien Mérigot: UMR Marine Biodiversity, Exploitation and Conservation (MARBEC), CNRS, Université Montpellier, IFREMER, IRD, Avenue Jean Monnet, 34203 Sète, France

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 20, 1-25

Abstract: By-catch is the most direct threat to marine mammals globally. Acoustic repellent devices (pingers) have been developed to reduce dolphin by-catch. However, mixed results regarding their efficiency have been reported. Here, we present a new bio-inspired acoustic beacon, emitting returning echoes from the echolocation clicks of a common dolphin ‘ Delphinus delphis ’ from a fishing net, to inform dolphins of its presence. Using surface visual observations and the automatic detection of echolocation clicks, buzzes, burst-pulses and whistles, we assessed wild dolphins’ behavioural responses during sequential experiments (i.e., before, during and after the beacon’s emission), with or without setting a net. When the device was activated, the mean number of echolocation clicks and whistling time of dolphins significantly increased by a factor of 2.46 and 3.38, respectively ( p < 0.01). Visual surface observations showed attentive behaviours of dolphins, which kept a distance of several metres away from the emission source before calmly leaving. No differences were observed among sequences for buzzes/burst-pulses. Our results highlight that this prototype led common dolphins to echolocate more and communicate differently, and it would favour net detection. Complementary tests of the device during the fishing activities of professional fishermen should further contribute to assessment of its efficiency.

Keywords: bio-acoustics; etho-acoustic; cetaceans; echolocation; clicks; whistles; buzz; burst-pulse; sound processing; Bay of Biscay (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/20/13186/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/20/13186/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:20:p:13186-:d:942003

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().