The Potential Use of a Broadband Auditory Stimulus As a Deterrent for Asian Carps

With the northern expansion of Asian Carps in the Mississippi River basin threatening the Great Lakes, efforts to control the spread of silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis)  has prompted investigations using sound as a deterrent.  Currently, there are only a few resources and tools for limiting the spread of Asian carp.  Results from laboratory trials strongly indicate that a multi-frequency broadband stimulus is an effective deterrent for both silver and bighead carp. This has led researchers to study the effectiveness of broadband sound in the field for repelling fish or herding them toward areas for harvest.  Preliminary field trials suggest naïve populations of Asian carp will avoid speakers playing broadband sound. Adding a broadband auditory stimulus within an integrated pest management strategy, either as a barrier or as a herding tool to increase harvest, could prove effective in decreasing propagule pressure and minimizing upstream movement. Investigations will continue focusing on characterizing the behavioral response of Asian carp to the sound stimulus in the field.