French scientists are developing acoustic beacons inspired by nature that can "speak" to dolphins, warning them of fishing nets and reducing accidental deaths of these marine mammals in the Bay of Biscay.
Marine biologist Bastien Mérigot from the University of Montpellier aims to alert dolphins to danger in their own language, helping them avoid getting entangled in invisible fishing nets on the seafloor.
Since 2016, a concerning number of dolphins have died after accidentally getting caught in fishing nets, particularly off the French coast of the Bay of Biscay. Traditional acoustic deterrent devices have failed to resolve this issue as they rely on random signals that dolphins do not understand.
Mérigot leads the DolphinFree project, which proposes an innovative solution: a nature-inspired acoustic beacon that communicates danger in a language dolphins can comprehend. By emitting audio signals recorded specifically at the frequencies dolphins use for echolocation, the device creates an acoustic image of a "dead dolphin," helping real dolphins avoid these deadly traps.
For more insights into how this smart device can save countless dolphins, check out Bastien Mérigot's interview in the video above.