Fumunda Whale Pinger makes waves worldwide

18-May-2011

Innovation Centre environmental company, Fumunda, is making waves worldwide with their latest innovation in marine mammal saving technology which is set to be adopted by KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board in South Africa.

Natal Sharks Board have jumped on board to become the latest country outside
Australia to place orders for the new cutting-edge pingers. Also showing interest in the new whale-saving devices is the Western Australia Pearl Fishing Industries.

Samples of the new F3 Whale Pinger have also been delivered to the US National Marine Fisheries Service who are keen to trial the Pingers in Alaskan waters where large numbers of migrating Humpback whales pass by commercial fishing nets.

General Manager of Fumunda, James Turner said that fishing net bycatch is a major animal welfare problem, killing an estimated 300,000 whales, dolphins and porpoises each year.

Fumunda, part of the Titley Scientific Group, designs and manufactures marine acoustic alarm devices, commonly known as pingers, which are used to prevent the incidental entanglement and subsequent drowning of marine mammals in fishing nets. The new Pinger was designed specifically to alert Humpback whales and utilises new technology, and operates on a low frequency which is easily heard by Whales.

“Having our new whale Pingers used in international waters is a huge feat for us and we are hoping that other countries will follow suit,” James said.

www.fumunda.com

Comment




Captcha Image

Go Back