DTU Aqua plays a key role in landmark achievement for aquatic telemetry research. As part of ETN, Danish researchers have tracked fish in Danish waters, and thus contributed to surpassing 1 billion detections of aquatic animals.
In order to protect aquatic species, we need to understand them - see the short film, Where the Wild Things Go, about the The European Tracking Network's (ETN) work to understand the marine animals by tracking them.
Researcher Kim Birnie-Gauvin, who besides ETN communications also works on other projects within ETN such as Nortrack, and DTOTrack, highlights the collaborative spirit behind the success:
“This milestone shows what’s possible when scientists come together for the greater good. It’s about more than sharing data, infrastructure and technology. It’s about trust and partnership. It’s about finding creative ways to work together to answer the most pressing questions about aquatic life. It’s about our legacy, and what comes after,” says Kim Birnie-Gauvin.
The latest data from the STRAITS project that pushed ETN past the one-billion mark came from DTU Aqua’s telemetry work in the Danish Straits (Lillebælt, Storebælt, and Øresund) – pinchpoints which are critical migration corridors, and monitoring them is key to understanding biodiversity patterns and threats.
Using acoustic telemetry technology, researchers attach small transmitters to aquatic animals that emit unique acoustic signals. These ‘pings’ are detected by underwater receivers deployed at strategic locations, creating a vast listening network that tracks animal movements across local, regional, and continental scales.
And the one billion detections from the tracking technology are more than numbers — they are evidence that informs European policy on biodiversity conservation, fisheries management, and marine spatial planning.
ETN data supports EU directives and helps decision-makers protect spawning grounds, migration routes, and vulnerable species.
The scientists from across Europe united in ETN share expertise, infrastructure, and data through a centralized platform. Thus, it is a network truly built on collaboration, and the wealth of data flowing through ETN is transforming marine and freshwater science.
Tracking data has revealed insights into marine life like:
As climate change and human activities reshape aquatic ecosystems, milestones like this underscore the importance of science-based monitoring.
Looking ahead, DTU Aqua will continue to play a key role in deploying strategic infrastructure and developing open protocols that make ETN a model for global collaboration.
Kim Birnie-Gauvin Researcher National Institute of Aquatic Resources kbir@aqua.dtu.dk
Kim Aarestrup Professor National Institute of Aquatic Resources Phone: +45 35883142 kaa@aqua.dtu.dk