The Marine Management Organisation has published a report setting out a feasibility study into the use of pingers to reduce harbour porpoise bycatch in static nets, aimed specifically at the under‑12 metre fleet.
The study, published on 2 October 2026, examined both the practical and economic aspects of introducing acoustic deterrent devices across the small static‑net sector and reported on the results of stakeholder engagement carried out in the south‑west of England.
Pingers are acoustic devices designed to deter harbour porpoise from approaching gillnets and other static gear; the report describes them as an established mitigation technology and frames the study around their potential application to a small inshore fleet that is often excluded from larger regulatory interventions.
Findings for the under‑12 metre static‑net fleet
The research assessed the costs and the operational feasibility of deploying pingers on vessels below 12 metres, recognising the distinct technical and economic circumstances of small‑boat fishers. The report also set out an adaptable economic modelling framework able to estimate how many pingers would be required across different gear types and vessel configurations and to produce corresponding cost projections.
Stakeholder engagement in the south‑west
Engagement with fishers, industry representatives and other local stakeholders in the south‑west formed a central element of the study and provided the evidence base for suggested policy directions. Those conversations fed directly into the development of the economic model and informed practical considerations such as installation, maintenance and likely patterns of device use in an inshore context.
Economic modelling and estimated costs
Rather than delivering fixed cost figures, the report presents a modelling approach that can be adapted to different fleets and local circumstances and that can be used to estimate both the number of devices required and the likely financial implications. The model is intended as a tool for policymakers and managers to appraise scenarios and to test the sensitivity of costs to variables such as gear type, replacement rates and scale of uptake.
The study stops short of prescribing a single policy route and instead supplies evidence that can underpin recommendations; the south‑west stakeholder material is used to highlight practical barriers and opportunities for uptake among small vessel operators. By combining qualitative engagement and an adaptable economic tool, the report provides decision‑makers with a clearer picture of what implementation might entail for under‑12 metre static‑net crews and for the regulators who oversee them.
The Marine Management Organisation report is positioned as a step towards informing policy on harbour porpoise bycatch mitigation for a segment of the UK fleet that has proved difficult to reach through broader measures. The document’s emphasis on an adaptable modelling approach and local engagement underlines a pragmatic route to assessing whether pingers are both practical and proportionate for small inshore fishers.
Published on 2 October 2026, the report is a resource for government officials, fisheries managers and industry stakeholders considering how best to reduce bycatch of harbour porpoise while accounting for the economic realities of the under‑12 metre static‑net fleet. The MMO’s work provides a framework for further analysis and for any subsequent policy discussions about targeted mitigation measures.
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