Studying the Impact of Sound on Fish Stock Assessments
Virtually silent Saildrone Explorers were used to determine if noise from diesel-powered research vessels scatter fish, resulting in inaccurate stock counts.
The Problem
The US Geological Survey (USGS) and partner agencies are tasked with conducting fish stock assessments to inform catch limits and support sustainable fisheries management in the Great Lakes. These surveys rely on vessel-based acoustic methods using underwater echo sounders. Regional fisheries experts have raised questions about whether noise from crewed vessels may influence fish behavior—potentially affecting the accuracy of stock estimates.
Solution
To better understand the impact of vessel noise on acoustic surveys, Saildrone deployed Explorer unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) equipped with fisheries echo sounders across Lakes Michigan, Huron, Superior, and Ontario. The wind-powered design of the Explorer enables near-silent operations, minimizing disturbance to marine life and providing a complementary approach to traditional vessel-based surveys. The USVs conducted both independent surveys and coordinated comparative surveys alongside research vessels to assess differences in fish distribution across time of day and habitat.
Outcome
Saildrone USVs collected continuous acoustic data over 3,613 nautical miles during the 2021 mission, including coordinated comparison surveys with crewed vessels. In parallel, crewed vessels conducted more than 40 mid-water trawl samples to associate species with acoustic returns.
Data collected across the 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 missions was analyzed by USGS scientists to assess potential vessel-related biases, contributing to more accurate and precise estimates of Great Lakes fish stocks.
This is the first large-scale uncrewed survey on any of the world’s great lakes.
“The USGS strives to continuously enhance the quality of our science by integrating cutting-edge technologies into our research. The data collected during this Lake Superior mission will help Great Lakes fishery managers make the most informed decisions possible to sustain the fishery.”
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