Federal Cooperative Agreement Summary

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded the Alaska Department of Fish & Game a Cooperative Agreement valued at $348,723 under the Cooperative Research Program (CFDA 11.472) effective July 1, 2026, through December 31, 2027. The project will conduct research and development to optimize the design, size, and weight specifications of a Targeted Acoustic Startle Technology (TAST) system and develop modular configurations to accommodate low- and mid-frequency transducers. Building on prior research demonstrating TAST's effectiveness in eliciting temporary avoidance responses in Steller sea lions, the research team will estimate harmful interactions between Steller sea lions and Southeast Alaska troll fishermen and evaluate multi-taxa mid-frequency pod effectiveness in controlled laboratory environments.

In partnership with the Alaska Seafood Cooperative, the recipient will modify and deploy the mid-frequency TAST system in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands flatfish trawl fishery to assess its capacity to simultaneously deter pinnipeds and cetaceans from trawl net mouths. The cooperative research framework will integrate fishing industry stakeholders with federal scientists to develop practical bycatch mitigation technology applicable across multiple marine mammal species and fishery operations, directly advancing the scientific basis for sustainable fisheries management in Alaska waters.