Invasive Carp Integrated Control and Containment: Acoustic Deterrents for Invasive Carp
The long-term goal of this project is to develop acoustic deterrents to prevent the upstream migration of Invasive carp to the Great Lakes.
The objectives were: 1) to use acoustic deterrents by determining the optimal sound frequencies, sound pressure levels (SPLs), and speaker design to repel carp while preventing injury to native species; 2) to determine the efficacy of complex sound to contain, herd, and capture motivated fish in the field; 3) to critically evaluate the efficacy of this technology when deployed on a large scale where Invasive carp are present, reevaluate the deterrent (both acoustically and biologically), and re-deploy/re-evaluate, as necessary; and 4) to develop tools that allow for movement predictions based on lock and dam operations, array designs for new deployments, and long-term remote monitoring of fish and acoustic deterrent systems. Future actions will focus on refining the sound characteristics that elicit the greatest response in these species in biologically motivated states (i.e., hunger, reproduction, etc.).
USGS scientists communicated with the Invasive Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (ICRCC) to deploy an acoustic deterrent in the Chicago Area Waterway during winter Electric Dispersal Barrier maintenance. USGS implemented pond studies to further investigate the effects of newly developed acoustic stimuli in cooperation with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center (USACE ERDC) on silver carp behavior. Auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) were conducted, with the University of Minnesota Duluth, on Black Carp and Grass Carp to determine efficacy of sound as potential deterrents for these fishes. USGS scientists also participated in a multi-agency planning team to evaluate a BioAcoustic Fish Fence at Barkley Lock and Dam on the Cumberland River.
Scientists learned that the use of a 100 hp boat motor acoustic stimulus is not highly effective in shallow water (~ 2 ft) when sound frequencies that carp are sensitive to attenuate near the source. The initial onset of sound, however, did motivate fish to leave the area where the speakers were deployed. Scientists were able to deploy a five-speaker acoustic deterrent for over a month in 2018; however, the effects on Invasive carp were unknown due to no Invasive Carp being present in the area. Based on the success of deploying the system, even with unknown effects on fish, managers requested the system be redeployed during a second electric barrier maintenance event in 2019.
Information about the effects of underwater acoustic stimuli on Invasive Carp deterrence is an integral component developing acoustic deterrents for these fishes. This project was funded under the Invasive Species Program within the Ecosystems Mission Area and these data help develop control technologies to keep Invasive Carp out of the Great Lakes.
Contributions
- Information about the effects of underwater acoustic stimuli on Invasive Carp deterrence is an integral component developing acoustic deterrents for these fishes.
- This project was funded under the Invasive Species Program within the Ecosystems Mission Area and these data help develop control technologies to keep Invasive Carp out of the Great Lakes.
Partners
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center, (USACE ERDC)
- University of Minnesota Duluth
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, (USFWS)
The long-term goal of this project is to develop acoustic deterrents to prevent the upstream migration of Invasive carp to the Great Lakes.
The objectives were: 1) to use acoustic deterrents by determining the optimal sound frequencies, sound pressure levels (SPLs), and speaker design to repel carp while preventing injury to native species; 2) to determine the efficacy of complex sound to contain, herd, and capture motivated fish in the field; 3) to critically evaluate the efficacy of this technology when deployed on a large scale where Invasive carp are present, reevaluate the deterrent (both acoustically and biologically), and re-deploy/re-evaluate, as necessary; and 4) to develop tools that allow for movement predictions based on lock and dam operations, array designs for new deployments, and long-term remote monitoring of fish and acoustic deterrent systems. Future actions will focus on refining the sound characteristics that elicit the greatest response in these species in biologically motivated states (i.e., hunger, reproduction, etc.).
USGS scientists communicated with the Invasive Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (ICRCC) to deploy an acoustic deterrent in the Chicago Area Waterway during winter Electric Dispersal Barrier maintenance. USGS implemented pond studies to further investigate the effects of newly developed acoustic stimuli in cooperation with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center (USACE ERDC) on silver carp behavior. Auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) were conducted, with the University of Minnesota Duluth, on Black Carp and Grass Carp to determine efficacy of sound as potential deterrents for these fishes. USGS scientists also participated in a multi-agency planning team to evaluate a BioAcoustic Fish Fence at Barkley Lock and Dam on the Cumberland River.
Scientists learned that the use of a 100 hp boat motor acoustic stimulus is not highly effective in shallow water (~ 2 ft) when sound frequencies that carp are sensitive to attenuate near the source. The initial onset of sound, however, did motivate fish to leave the area where the speakers were deployed. Scientists were able to deploy a five-speaker acoustic deterrent for over a month in 2018; however, the effects on Invasive carp were unknown due to no Invasive Carp being present in the area. Based on the success of deploying the system, even with unknown effects on fish, managers requested the system be redeployed during a second electric barrier maintenance event in 2019.
Information about the effects of underwater acoustic stimuli on Invasive Carp deterrence is an integral component developing acoustic deterrents for these fishes. This project was funded under the Invasive Species Program within the Ecosystems Mission Area and these data help develop control technologies to keep Invasive Carp out of the Great Lakes.
Contributions
- Information about the effects of underwater acoustic stimuli on Invasive Carp deterrence is an integral component developing acoustic deterrents for these fishes.
- This project was funded under the Invasive Species Program within the Ecosystems Mission Area and these data help develop control technologies to keep Invasive Carp out of the Great Lakes.
Partners
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center, (USACE ERDC)
- University of Minnesota Duluth
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, (USFWS)