The principal investigators (PI) would conduct research and development to determine the best size and weight reduction for a targeted acoustic startle technology (TAST) system and create a modular…

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded the Alaska Department of Fish & Game a cooperative agreement for $348,723 on July 1, 2026, under the Cooperative Research Program (CFDA 11.472).

The recipient will conduct research and development to optimize the size and weight reduction of a Targeted Acoustic Startle Technology (TAST) system and create a modular design to accommodate low- and mid-frequency transducers. Building on prior work demonstrating that TAST elicits temporary and localized avoidance responses in Steller sea lions, the project will estimate harmful interactions between sea lions and Southeast Alaska troll fishermen and test the effectiveness of a multi-taxa mid-frequency pod on sea lions in a controlled environment. In partnership with the Alaska Seafood Cooperative, the recipient will also modify and deploy mid-frequency TAST in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands flatfish trawl fishery to test simultaneous deterrence of pinnipeds and cetaceans from the trawl net mouth.

Work is performed in Juneau, Alaska, with a period of performance from July 1, 2026, through December 31, 2027. The Cooperative Research Program funds partnerships between the fishing industry, fishermen, and other stakeholders with federal and university scientists to collect fundamental fisheries information supporting single-species, multispecies, and ecosystem assessment models.

The principal investigators (PI) would conduct research and development to determine the best size and weight reduction for a targeted acoustic startle technology (TAST) system and create a modular design to accommodate low- and mid-frequency (MF) transducers. Previous work under brep grant #NA20NMF4720268 showed that TAST can be used to elicit temporary and localized avoidance responses in steller sea lions (jemison ET AL. 2024). Using the improved system, the project would estimate harmful interactions between stellar sea lions (SSL) and southeast alaska troll fisherman and test the effectiveness of a multi-taxa MF POD on SSL in a controlled environment following protocols of jemison ET AL. 2024. To broaden the applicability of TAST, in partnership with the alaska seafood cooperative, they plan to modify and deploy MF-TAST in the bering sea and aleutian islands flatfish trawl fishery to test if IT would simultaneously deter pinnipeds and cetaceans from the mouth of the trawl net.