River Dee salmon could soon gain a new shield against seals, with underwater speakers set to transform protection efforts for this critically endangered population.
In Aberdeenshire, a £160,000 funding package secured by the University of St Andrews will support a novel “detect and deter” system on the lower stretch of the Dee. The plan involves deploying submerged speakers that emit sounds designed to discourage seals from traveling upstream and preying on salmon.
Past attempts, such as water scooter startle devices used to push seals back downstream, proved ineffective. Early testing on the North Esk has shown encouraging results, and project leaders hope similar success can be replicated on the Dee, which presents additional challenges for sonar-based solutions used elsewhere.
The Dee District Salmon Fishery Board (DDSFB) notes that Atlantic salmon numbers fell by about 40% this year compared with 2024, a decline occurring as grey seal populations—major predators of the fish—continue to rise.
DDSFB spokesperson Debbie Cooper described the new approach as part of a longer line of strategies that have yet to deliver the desired outcome. She emphasized the urgency: because the salmon are endangered, every available measure must be explored. "We’re racing against time, so advancing this technology now is crucial," she stated."
