Does anyone have advice on finding/using commercially available biologgers (or buoy systems) with acoustic sensors for recording sound?
We are interested in studying the behavioral responses of seals to sound from human activities and need to decide the best way to record it (i.e., using fixed buoys or animal-borne tags).
Any insight is much appreciated!
5 June 2025 8:01pm
To study behavioral responses of marine mammals to anthropogenic sounds you really need animal-born tags. The market is very limited and so are the commercial sources. I assume you did already the literature search as as tagging seals has been done at least for 50 years, you may find what was working and which companies recently provide tags. Seal tagging seams easier than cetacean tagging as seals are semiaquatic and are typically tagged at the haul out locations.
30 June 2025 3:36pm
Hi There!
For biologgers, I think there are a few on the market that have been attached to marine mammals. I've provided a few links to ones that I know have been used for understanding the behavioural responses to sound - Dtags made by SMRU and Acousonde tags.
You could also have a look through The Inventory here on WildLabs for other devices on the market.
Hope that helps!
Courtney
Adrien Pajot
WILDLABS
Fauna & Flora
3 July 2025 9:08am
Hey Maggie,
@TomKnowles and his team, 2025 awardees, are working on a acoustic tags to be deployed Basking Sharks!
6 February 2026 9:32am
Hi Maggie,
might be too late and not of interest anymore - but Pauline Goulet (former SMRU PhD) sells Dtags for seals:
Wild Tag Solutions: Custom Biologging Tags for Marine Predators | Wild Tag Solutions
Discover how Wild Tag Solutions designs and manufactures unique acoustic and movement biologging tags for marine predators. Our high-quality devices record high-resolution data to help researchers investigate critical questions about our changing marine environment.
Nina
Walter Zimmer