An Overview of Hydroacoustics Use within a State Agency

Hydroacoustics is the used of transmitted sound to detect fish, and was first developed in the early 1900s for military uses.  Since 1997 the Wyoming Game and Fish Department has used hydroacoustics to estimate fish density and population size, as well as depth and size distribution of populations.  Historically, four to eight waters have been sampled with hydroacoustics each year.  The results of these surveys provide long-term datasets for a number of priority waters, allowing researchers to examine trends and monitor the effect of differing management strategies.  Hydroacoustics is now the primary sampling technique for monitoring trout and kokanee salmon populations in Wyoming.  Currently, the hydroacoustic program in Wyoming is undergoing an update to improve current methods and standardize results across years.