On 7 May 2026, SEAFDEC/TD collaborated with Thailand’s Department of Fisheries (DOF) and the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) held the “Online Consultation Meeting to Mitigate the Impacts of Fishing Gear on Marine Mammals”. During the meeting, the DOF emphasized their continued efforts to utilize “High-Frequency Acoustic Transmitter Technology,” or pingers—small, compact acoustic devices attached to fishing gillnets—to meet international safety requirements, particularly the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). Meanwhile, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) provided updates on their studies and efforts to conserve the Irrawaddy dolphin, a rare and vulnerable species, with novel high-frequency sound technology.
A crucial conclusion of the online meeting was a commitment from all three organizations to work together on producing a new, locally customized version of this pinger device. SEAFDEC/TD will play a key role in developing solutions that are tailored to Thailand’s unique maritime environment and easy for local fishermen to implement. Working together, these organizations are taking crucial steps to protect dolphins and other marine species from the threats posed by fishing gear, not just in Thailand but across the region.
