Frequently Asked Questions

Dolphins and seals, which are among the most intelligent creatures in our seas, pose one of the greatest challenges to coastal fishing during the fishing season. Viewing the fish trapped in the nets as easy prey, these marine mammals tear the nets and scatter the gillnets whilst attempting to reach the fish, thereby significantly reducing fishing efficiency. When a fisherman’s nets—prepared with great effort—are rendered unusable in a single night, this leads to both high repair costs and a loss of labour.

Traditional methods used in the past to prevent such damage have either proved completely inadequate or caused harm to marine life. In today’s modern world, however, a single sustainable solution stands out that both protects marine life and safeguards the fisherman’s labour: Acoustic Deterrent (Pinger) Technologies.

In the marine technology sector, one of the most critical parameters determining the success of acoustic deterrent (pinger) devices is their underwater durability. Many fishermen and fish farm owners report that standard pinger devices purchased on the market keep dolphins away for the first few weeks but lose their effectiveness over time. In scientific literature and the maritime sector, this phenomenon is known as the ‘Habituation Effect’.

➡️ The Dinner Bell Effect:

Dolphins and seals possess highly developed intelligence and learning abilities. If a pinger device continuously emits sound underwater at the same frequency, the same rhythm and a constant pitch, marine mammals will become accustomed to this sound over time. Having realised that the sound does not cause them any physical harm, the animals eventually begin to perceive this constant sound not as something to be feared, but quite the opposite – as a signal that ‘there is a fishing net or fish farm here’ (the dinner bell). This is the fundamental reason why devices emitting a constant frequency fail in the long term.

In the fishing and seafood sector, every penny counts. Between diesel prices, staff costs and the expense of nets, you want to get your money’s worth for every penny you spend. So, it’s only natural to ask: ‘Is it really worth spending this money on the DOLPINGER acoustic deterrent device?’

Without beating about the bush, without hiding behind fancy words, let’s answer directly in the language of seafarers and with maths: Yes, it’s worth every penny. Why? Let’s work it out together.

1. You’re Actually Paying for a ‘Tear-Resistant Net’, Not the Device Itself

✅ The cost of the net twine and lead/cork weights you use up every time the net tears,

✅ The hours and labour spent by the crew repairing the net,

✅ And most importantly, add up the days you lose because you can’t go out to sea whilst the net is being repaired.

✅ We don’t think we need to explain the stress and frustration you go through.

DOLPINGER protects your net from tearing, saving you tens of thousands of lira in these hidden costs every season. You pay for the device once, but you’re spared the hassle of net repairs every month.

2. The Cost of Lost Catch Exceeds the Price of the Device

✅ You’re not out at sea to take a gamble; you’re out to earn your livelihood. When fish strike your net and dolphins dive in to eat them, two things happen: either they eat the fish directly, or they scare the school of fish away with the sounds they make, causing them to escape the net.

Consider the financial value of the fish you lose per trip due to dolphins. DOLPINGER creates an invisible barrier around the net with its variable sound in the 5–400 kHz range. It keeps dolphins at a safe distance, leaving the fish in the net. The catch you save in just a few trips alone will pay for the device.

3. You’re Not Taking a Gamble by Buying an Imported Device

You may come across cheaper or more expensive imported (foreign) pinger devices on the market. However, there are two major risks with those devices:

✅ Habituation Effect: As they emit a fixed sound, dolphins become accustomed to the sound after one month and return to the net. Your money will be wasted. DOLPINGER, on the other hand, uses adaptive (variable) frequencies, making it biologically impossible for dolphins to get used to the sound.

✅ Customs and Service Headaches: If an imported device takes on water or breaks down, you’ll have no one to turn to; even if you do find someone, you’ll be stuck waiting for weeks at customs and your fishing season will be over. DOLPINGER is 100 per cent locally manufactured. It comes with a one-year ‘like-for-like’ replacement guarantee. If it breaks down, your season won’t be cut short; you’ll have direct access to the manufacturer’s engineers.

In summary: Not an Expense, but a Self-Funding Investment

DOLPINGER is not an expense. As it prevents net damage and lost catch from the moment you purchase it, it pays for itself completely within an average of 1 to 3 months.Once the device has paid for itself, all the profit it generates for your boat or facility for the remainder of the season goes straight into your pocket. Do you want to leave your hard work and earnings at sea to chance, or secure them with technology? The choice is yours.

Developed using in-house R&D capabilities, the DOLPINGER Li-10 features an Adaptive Frequency Algorithm designed to completely eliminate the habituation effect. The device does not produce a constant sound whilst underwater; instead, it emits constantly changing, random and unpredictable acoustic signals across an extremely wide frequency range, from 5 kHz to 400 kHz.

✅ Unpredictable Sound Patterns: Thanks to its AI-powered algorithm, the sound patterns emitted by the device constantly vary. It is biologically impossible for dolphins to become accustomed to or develop immunity to these variable frequencies.

✅ Uninterrupted Long-Term Effectiveness: DOLPINGER maintains the same high level of deterrence performance months and even years after it is first deployed.

✅ Target-Species-Focused Transmission: The variable signals it emits have been optimised by analysing the behavioural patterns of specific species—such as the porpoise, bottlenose dolphin and common dolphin—which cause the most net damage in our regional waters.

In pinger technology, high sound power alone is not enough; the real success lies in the intelligent software. Thanks to DOLPINGER’s adaptive algorithm, dolphins will always stay away from your nets, just as they did on the very first day.

Yes. For technical guidance on installation and use, contact the Dolpinger technical team by phone or WhatsApp.

There is no single criterion: net structure, the purpose of the fishery and environmental conditions have to be considered together. Depending on the region, spacing of 200 to 800 metres between devices is recommended.

No. The number is planned according to net type, net length, the fishing area and other technical factors.

It has proven itself mainly on purse seines, encircling (voli) nets and gillnets. Suitability should be assessed according to the net system in use, the fishing area and working conditions.

No single product is the best choice for every operation. The right choice depends on net type, conditions of use and operational needs. Dolpinger is a proven and well-regarded product.

Because acoustic pingers are designed around the acoustic properties of the marine environment and the auditory perception of marine mammals.

No. The battery is sealed inside the housing, so it cannot be replaced by the user.

Yes. Sandy, muddy and rocky bottoms reflect or absorb sound waves in different ways.