Can we save dolphins by talking like them? Science says yes

euronews (in English)

French scientists are developing bio-inspired acoustic beacons that can "speak" to dolphins, warning them of fishing nets and reducing accidental deaths of these marine mammals along the Bay of Biscay.

Transcript

00:00Since 2016, we have observed a very large number of failed dolphins,

00:04most of which have traces of fishing nets.

00:10In fact, they find themselves captured inside, they die suffocated,

00:13since in fact they do not manage to unleash themselves once they are captured in these nets.

00:23Why are traditional acoustic repulsives not effective?

00:26The signals they emit are not directly linked to the dolphin's communication system.

00:31It is more of random signals to try to disturb their sonar and move them away.

00:36What is the peculiarity of your new repulsive?

00:39The Dolphin Free acoustic beacon emits a bio-inspired signal

00:42that allows to transmit a signal directly understood by the dolphins

00:46to inform them of the presence of the net and the risk of associated mortality.

00:50At the reception of this signal, the dolphins communicate much more with each other,

00:54they will be much more eco-localized,

00:56that is to say, use their sonar to try to detect the presence of a situation,

01:00a danger, especially of the fishing net.

01:02And they will then quietly move away from the emission zone

01:05and therefore avoid the presence of the net.

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