Acoustic transmitters keep getting smaller! We have just published a paper on the performance of an acoustic array we designed to detect the new, smaller, higher-frequency tags produced by Innovasea (formerly VEMCO Canada). The array was deployed in the Discovery Islands region of BC in 2015 and achieved 76% detection probability for 180 kHz tags implanted into migrating juvenile steelhead. Smaller tags are important because they allow studies on a larger fraction of the fish size spectrum (>95 mm), and reduce the probability of negative effects from the tag. Unfortunately, detection range and study duration are also reduced which introduces new challenges. Our array design balances performance with cost. We hope this work will assist other researchers in the use of this developing technology!
The paper is freely available from Springer Nature .