In 1999 Pingers were used in the world’s first large scale Pinger trials conducted by USA researchers.

As a result of the trials, the US Federal government mandated the use of Pingers in US fisheries.

In 2017 under the USA Marine Mammal Protection Act, (MMPA) all countries that export seafood to the USA must meet the MMPA regulation, which includes the use of Pingers.

America imports more than 20 billion dollars worth of seafood every year.

Commencing January 1st 2023, over 100 countries that export seafood to the USA will be required to demonstrate how they are meeting the MMPA. Failure to do so will jeopardise seafood import licences being granted.

This is the most important milestone for Pinger technology in the past 50 years, as most countries will need to introduce Pinger use in their fishing industry.

In 2020, Norway which exports over 2 billion dollars worth of fish to the USA annually, was among the first countries to introduce Pinger mandates in response to the MMPA.

Our goal is to raise awareness of the MMPA and the important role of Pingers in countries affected by the MMPA. Pingers will save whale and dolphin populations and protect the critical economic role fishing industries have in many countries.

Future Oceans was able to successfully design and manufacture the worlds first low-frequency Whale Pinger when in 2012 it secured a $250,000.00 grant from the Australian Federal Government.

Humpback whale populations are increasing every year and unfortunately, their entanglement in fishing nets and ropes in the water has increased significantly.

Humpback whale entanglements typically lead to a slow agonizing death over several months as the nets and rope cut into the whales causing them to become weak and drown.

Collaborating with scientists and researchers from the USA, Australia and Europe, Future Oceans team of engineers successfully designed a 3kHz frequency Pinger specifically to alert Humpback whales to obstacles in their migration paths.

The whale Pinger was adopted by governments and fishing associations in South Africa, Australia, and the USA, (in Alaska) where gill net fishermen voluntarily purchase large numbers of whale Pingers to reduce interactions with Humpbacks.

Scientists from Fairbanks University undertook a large-scale whale Pinger trial in Alaksa with results confirming that the whale Pingers were highly effective at alerting Humpbacks to fishing gear in the water.

Future Oceans is developing relations with key stakeholders in the USA, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, and other countries where Humpback whales are present, and entanglements have become a serious problem.

Future Oceans is the only company in the world that has successfully developed and commercialised a Pinger that has resulted in the protection of tens of thousands of Humpbacks over the past ten years.

A scientific study using Pingers (Mangel et al) confirms that using Future Oceans Pingers on fishing nets in Peru, would save 20,000 Dolphins every year.

At least 100,000 kilometres of net is set every year by thousands of small-scale artisanal fishermen in Peru who must fish to provide food daily for their families.

A collaboration between Future Oceans, Prodelphinus and the WWF, “Pingers For Peru” is a project to secure support to donate Pingers to small scale artisanal fishermen who need Pingers but cannot afford them.

An estimated 10,000 artisanal fishermen in Peru need Future Oceans Pingers to help to fish sustainably now and into the future.

For decades researchers have shown that small scale fisheries are globally important as food providers and as sources of employment in coastal communities, particularly in the developing world.

Pingers For Peru provides the template to move forward with Pinger projects in developing countries where millions of dolphins can be saved.

Norway has over 5000 coastal gill net vessels operating over the length of its coastline.

Research conducted by scientists at the Institute of Marine research (IMR) confirms that the levels of Harbor Porpoise bycatch exceed internationally recognized limits, known as Potential Biological Removal or PBR.

Since 2013, Future Oceans has worked closely with the IMR in efforts to develop Pinger use in Norway.

Over the past 8 years Pinger trials have been conducted by the IMR using Future Oceans Pingers.

In October 2019, Future Oceans attended an international symposium in Alesund, with the aim of providing the Norwegian government advice concrete steps forward in regarding the protection of Harbor Porpoise populations in Norway.

The meeting resulted with the introduction of a Pinger mandate, requiring gill net vessels operating in the Vestford to use Pingers from January 1^st 2021.

Future Oceans continues to collaborate with all stakeholders in Norway in efforts to ensure all 5000 gillnet vessels operating in Norway will use Pingers by January 1^st 2023.  This will save thousands of Harbor Porpoises and protect Norway’s multi billion dollar seafood export industry.

Future Oceans Pingers are the only Pingers that meet the stringent performance expectations of Norway’s fishermen, and Future Oceans Pingers are formally approved for use in Norway.

Norway is a very good example of how collaboration across all stakeholders involved in fishing can deliver long term sustainable outcomes that offer all stakeholders a positive outcome and protect the marine environment 

In 2012 the Portuguese government invited Future Oceans to participate in a “Safesea” seminar in Figuera La Foz to provide expert advice on strategies to reduce cetacean bycatch in Portuguese fisheries.

In 2013, Future Oceans was awarded a contract to supply 1000 Pingers to Portuguese fishermen as part of a Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein (EEA) grant.

The project was overseen by researchers at Minho University and was the largest scientific Pinger trial ever undertaken in Europe.

Every fishery where Future Oceans Pingers were used, reported a significant reduction in dolphin bycatch.

In beach purse seiner fisheries where large numbers of dolphins have been caught, Pingers completely eliminated all dolphin bycatch.

Future Oceans continues to collaborate with Minho and Aveiro Universities, A Coordinadora para o Estudo dos Mamíferos Mariños (CEMMA), Centro Litoral O.P. Sociedad Portuguesa de Vida Selvagem and all major Portuguese fishing associations. We remain committed to developing the use of Pingers to reduce Dolphin bycatch in Portugal.

Dolphin and whale entanglement is a serious problem in Ecuador.

Future Oceans has developed relationships with key stakeholders in efforts to reduce the entanglement of whales and dolphins in Ecuador’s coastal gillnet fleet.

Tens of thousands of small scale “artisanal” fishermen need to fish to survive, set nets every day and dolphin and whale entanglement is a serious problem in Ecuador.

A formal scientific Pinger project, co-authored by Professor Juan Jose Alava of Simon Fraser University and James Turner provided to Ecuador’s fisheries minister recommends the use of Future Oceans Pingers on fishing boats in 10 ports in Ecuador.

This pilot project is the first effort to use Pingers in Ecuador and it marks a significant step forward in Ecuador efforts to reduce whale and dolphin losses.

The project involves stakeholders needed to ensure the long-term uptake of Pingers, including the government, Ecuador’s National Fisheries Institute (SNP), University researchers, FEMM, a non-profit environmental organisation to assist with on the ground operations and Ecuadorian fishing associations.

In 2010, senior Government scientists in India approached Future Oceans seeking advice on how to protect critically endangered Ganges River Dolphins from becoming entangled and drowning in fishing nets in the Brahmaputra and Ganges rivers.

This resulted in Future Oceans successfully developing the world’s first fresh water activated Dolphin Pinger.

Over the next seven years, working closely with scientists at the Wildlife Institute of India, large scale Pinger trials were undertaken.

Prof Qamar Qureshi, Head of Population Management, Capture and Rehabilitation, Dr Vishnupriya Kolipakam, Faculty and Co-Principal Investigator and Dr Abdul Wakid, Project Scientist, Ganges Dolphin Conservation Initiative at the WII, proved that Future Oceans Pingers were highly successful in reducing Ganges River Dolphin bycatch.

Over 3000 fishermen set nets in the Brahmaputra and Ganges rivers every day.

Indian fishermen now using Future Oceans Pingers are ensuring the long-term survival of the critically endangered Ganges River Dolphin, India’s National Aquatic symbol.

Stemming from the success in India, Future Oceans is now involved in Pingers trials with government scientists to reduce the loss of other critically endangered freshwater River Dolphin populations in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Argentina, and Brazil.