Novel Acoustic Techniques for Assessing Fish Schooling in the Context of an Operational Ocean Observatory

Abstract

The goal of this work is to develop new methods for observing large spatial scales in oceanic ecosystems. In particular, this report focuses on the development and use of a new type of mid-frequency, multi-beam sonar for making long-range backscatter images of fish aggregations in shallow water with the aid of the ocean acoustic waveguide. Fish aggregation is important during spawning, predation, and feeding, yet the quantitative analyses of gregarious movements and behaviors remain relatively rare. Measurements of fish aggregations are often difficult, particularly in pelagic environments. In terms of the forward sonar problem, widespread fish aggregations will appear as interfering reverberation, while schools and shoals may appear as false targets or may screen other targets, degrading sonar system performance.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 2009
Accession Number
ADA506451

Entities

People

  • Christopher K. R. T. Jones

Organizations

  • University of Washington

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acoustic Waveguides
  • Backscattering
  • Environment
  • False Targets
  • Fish
  • Frequency
  • Measurement
  • Observatories
  • Puget Sound
  • Reverberation
  • Scattering
  • Shallow Water
  • Side Looking Sonar
  • Sonar
  • Surveys
  • Targets
  • Waveguides

Readers

  • Acoustical Oceanography.
  • Aquatic Ecology